Search for Mental Health Heroes launched by Deputy Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has unveiled a campaign to raise awareness of mental health problems by asking people to nominate people that they know within their local communities as ‘Mental Health Heroes.’

Mr Clegg is asking that ‘Mental Health Heroes’ be nominated in every region across the UK and include a range of people from friends and acquaintances to healthcare professionals who have exceeded their job descriptions and gone the extra mile to help someone living with mental health problems.

Mr Clegg said: “I want to celebrate those who have gone that extra mile, whose passion and commitment have helped someone get through their darkest days and helped challenge the taboo around mental health which has existed for far too long.

“It could be the woman sitting next to you on the bus, the dad picking his child up at the school gates or a colleague from work, everyone knows someone living with a mental health problem.”

The Mental Health Foundation reports that one quarter of people living in the UK will experience mental health problems each year and of that 25 per cent receive treatment, mostly by prescription medication.

Of those one in four people affected by mental health problems, the Mental Health Foundation recognises that the stigma and prejudice associated with mental health problems may make it more difficult for those who need support to speak up and receive it.

In addition, 2.3 million people living with mental health conditions are out of work and cite their mental health problems as the main reason for needing to claim health benefits.

Mr Clegg added: “It is my ambition to bring mental health out of the shadows and create a fairer society where people can speak up about how they feel and get the support and treatment they need to live the life that they choose.”

The campaign to recognise and award ‘Mental Health Heroes’ is a part of continuous work by the Deputy Prime Minister, to increase treatment and improve awareness of mental health problems to bring them in line with physical health problems. Mr Clegg has previously worked on improving mental health services by initiating a Mental Health Taskforce, the first of its kind in the UK to combine resources from ministers across the Government.

The Mental Health Taskforce has so far provided £400 million investment into talking therapies, £150 million investment into supporting and providing treatment for young adults and children with eating disorders. In addition to securing an investment of £7 million to help finance 50 inpatient young adults and children, as well as £54 million to the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb said: “Mental illness touches us all and, everyday, people in our communities are doing amazing things to improve the lives of those affected. We want to recognise and reward them.

“I am determined to end discrimination faced by people with mental illness, which us why we’re continuing to fund Time to Change and support Time to Talk Day. Everyone has a part to play in tackling stigma and this is an important opportunity to start the conversations that will make lasting change.”

The campaign for ‘Mental Health Heroes’ is open to anyone who has changed the lives of people living with mental health problems, by inspiring others to seek support and triumph over mental health problems, reducing the stigma associated with mental health problems, as well as supporting others and encouraging them to go back to or stay in work.

Winners of the award will have the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony in London on Thursday 5 February after entries close on Tuesday 27 January.

Nominations can be made by completing an application form, available to view at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-heroes-nomination-form