Report to the People
29th September 2003
Putting Stigma on the Ropes
Life
is full of little ironies.
Rotund
stargazer Russell Grant, for example, has written a diet book.
I spend hours every day fighting with gadgets and technology which are
supposed to save me time. And, as
that comedian who used to advertise Channel 5 pointed out, the Alanis Morissette
song “Ironic” does not contain a single example of irony.
Similarly
ironic (if infinitely more ill-judged) was the decision by a headline writer –
as we prepare for the start of Scottish Mental Health Week on 6th
October – to label one of the nation’s best loved sporting heroes
“bonkers.”
Mental
Health Week aims to remove the stigma around mental health problems and,
although subsequent coverage has been supportive, the initial reports of Frank
Bruno’s problems didn’t exactly further this cause.
But
every cloud has a silver lining and at least the fall-out from this episode has
helped kick-start the debate about how we view mental health issues.
And,
in the course of that debate, we need to dispel the myth that mental illness is
some alien affliction only affecting a handful of people.
In reality, one in four Scots will experience a mental health problem
this year.
And,
while some of these illnesses will be relatively minor, the consequences of
mental health problems can be extremely serious. Indeed, over the 20 years leading to 2001 our suicide rate
rose by 22% – one of the highest rates of increase in Europe.
So
the problem must be tackled effectively. But
that means more than challenging public attitudes and reducing stigma. We
need proper support and prevention services.
That is why, earlier this month, Deputy Health Minister, Tom
McCabe, announced details of a three-year action plan aimed, not only at raising
the profile of mental health and eliminating stigma, but also at promoting and
supporting recovery and preventing suicide.
And
the plan, which is receiving £24 million from the Scottish Executive's Health
Improvement Fund, will support new and continuing national and local activities
which are vital to improving mental health in Scotland.
Sometimes
it takes a celebrity case to help us understand or demystify a problem which
affects millions of ordinary members of the public. And I hope this will happen here.
After
all, if mental illness can fell a man who was once the Heavyweight Champion of
the world, what shame is there in any of the rest of us seeking help when we
need it?
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