Changing Minds campaign

Sir: Professor Crisp (Psychiatric Bulletin, November 2001, 25, 444-446) gave an update on the Changing Minds campaign, and concluded by urging all areas of the College to participate actively in this campaign. As someone who has helped to run one of the Stigma Alert educational roadshows aimed at general practitioners (GPs), I would like to add further encouragement to any College members thinking of offering their support.

The difficulty in finding someone to speak at the event on behalf of service users gave strong evidence as to the continuing impact of stigma on the lives of our patients. The speaker I eventually found spoke eloquently about the experience of rejection by her former employers, and the fact that some mental health professionals are still wary of accepting her in her recovered role as a support worker because they remember the time when she was an in-patient.

It is hard to say if the meeting changed the minds of the handful of GPs who attended. It certainly was a very useful bridge-building occasion, bringing together local health professionals and patients, and carers groups. Moreover, I can confirm that participating in the campaign has changed my mind. My awareness of stigmatising attitudes has been so heightened that I find myself moved to respond actively where I see psychiatry maligned, and possibly more invidiously, ignored.

Another round of these meetings is planned for the spring throughout the UK, and Liz Cowan at the campaign office (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG) would be pleased to hear from interested College Members.