One in four of us will have a mental health problem in our lifetime.
Despite this, people with a mental illness still identify discrimination as a major barrier to their quality of life.
The impact of prejudice, ignorance and fear around mental health can be devastating.
Stigma can prevent people seeking help when they need it. It stops people with ability getting the jobs they are qualified to do.
It can prevent people playing an active and positive role in their community. It can stop people building new friendships and mean losing existing ones.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (May 23-29) and we are urging readers to find out more about mental health issues where they live, in a bid to reduce this discrimination.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is to become a ‘member’ of our Trust.
By joining the 5,000-strong membership, you can opt to receive quarterly updates about specialist mental health, learning disability and brain injury care across Dorset – from children’s services to dementia care.
Membership is free, you only become as involved as you wish and anyone over 11 years old can join. Please complete a form – by visiting www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk – or by calling the Trust on 0808 100 3318.
Jonathan Walsh, Chairman Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
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