SHIFT conference 2006
... Live reporting from the SHIFT conference 2006, Palace Hotel, Manchester.Shifting Attitudes and Behaviour to Mental Health
The First Shift International Conference enabled people who are working to reduce the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health to:
- share good practice in reducing stigma and discrimination, nationally and internationally,
- share progress on key work areas of the Shift programme,
- discuss important issues about the next steps, and
- work together more efficiently to end the stigma and discrimination around mental health both nationally and internationally.
Keynote address
Professor Louis Appleby, Director of Mental Health, opened the conference. Some of Louis' key messages included:
"Stigma like racism has no place in a moral society.
Mental health care is generally positive in this country.
We all have a responsibility to make a positive case for change and stop talking mental health down."
You can access a press release containing Louis' speech here http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/SHIFTconference2006_resources
Experts by experience testimony
Four members of the SHIFT expert advisors team gave powerfully moving testimonies about their direct experience of stigma and discrimination. They included: Hanif Bobat, Rosemary Wilson, Linda Simpson and Diane Hackney.If you want to interview a member of the team please contact Robert Westhead on 07971 201 220.
International research and good practice
Speakers from across the world provided fascinating speeches on the international research and good practice in reducing stigma and discrimination. They included:
- Professor Norman Sartorius, former director of the World Health Organisation's Mental Health Programme (Global)
- Linda Dunion, see me (Scotland/New Zealand)
- Shun Au, Chinese Mental Health Association (China)
- Amo Kalar, National Phobics' Society (South Asia)
- Vesna Svab, National Organisation for Mental Health, SENT (Slovenia)
You can read more and download the presentations given by these speakers here http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/SHIFTconference2006_resources.
If you want to interview any of these speakers contact Robert Westhead on 07971 201 220.
Workshops
Focussed workshops were held enabling delegates to discuss and debate the following issues:
- Employment – recruitment and retention
- Reducing stigma and discrimination amongst schoolchildren
- Developing the evidence base - learning from the Indigo study
- Building positive media coverage on mental health issues
- Addressing stigma and inequalities in the physical health of people with mental health problems
- Involving people with direct experience in evaluation
- Tackling stigma & discrimination through sports
- Working across Government to reduce stigma and discrimination
Each workshop session will conclude with a set of action points for the participants to undertake. You can access information about the workshops here http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/SHIFTconference2006_resources
Virtual Conference
This website will allow delegates to present papers and discuss issues before, during and after the conference (20th February – 7th April 2006). As well as supporting delegates at the physical conference, the virtual conference will also allow people unable to attend in person to become involved.
The virtual conference will also act as a repository for national and international examples of anti-stigma and discrimination work.
The virtual conference will provide the background context for the discussions that take place at the physical event.
http://www.connects.org/conferences
Further information
If you want to be kept informed about the Shift International Conference and of the work of the Shift programme in general, please visit our website at http://www.shift.org.uk or email us at shift@csip.org.uk.