This piece describes the various informal and formal ways your organisation can champion, promote and raise awareness of mental health. This will support the activities you carry out to improve knowledge and confidence and ensure your work is person-centred.
Anyone within your organisation can champion mental health and help to create a culture of openness and awareness. To be effective it is important that this is co-ordinated and supported, possibly through a Wellness Action Group or Wellbeing Lead - See "Make a Commitment".
You may decide to set up a formal champions scheme and/or you may run awareness campaigns informally.
These will be campaigns and events that are planned and co-ordinated by anyone with an interest in mental health. They may tie in with awareness events such as World Mental Health Day or Time to Talk Day.
Informal champions will focus on raising awareness of mental health rather than providing mental health support.
Setting up a mental health champions scheme is a formal approach to raising awareness and providing support.
A mental health champion is someone who takes action to raise awareness of mental health and helps to challenge stigma.
Many people with mental health problems still report that the impact of stigma and discrimination is as bad or worse than the symptoms themselves.
1. Workplace mental health champions who encourage positive mental health and challenge stigma within the organisation (e.g. paid and voluntary workforce).
2. Community mental health champions who promote the benefits of participating in sport and physical activity to maintain and improve mental health in local communities. These champions might work or volunteer within clubs or groups.
Anyone can be a mental health champion, and there can be two parts to the role:
See our toolkit or contact us to discuss this in more detail and how a scheme may benefit your organisation.
A formal mental health champions scheme requires ongoing investment and support so it is important to weigh up the benefits and considerations before making a decision.
When we read or see films of people in the media or we know personally talking about mental health, it helps us to understand it is more common than we may believe.
Key things to consider:
Your audience: who you want to raise awareness of mental health with and how to reach most people, most effectively.
Type of resources: think about the most appropriate way(s) you can reach your audience and encourage them to engage with your campaign.
Timing: when is the best time to run your campaigns and frequency. You could link to an established campaign. See our Mental Health Calendar.
Method of communication: the most effective method(s) will depend on your audience, timing and resources.
Click on the above image to hear about Nottingham Forest Community Trust's “It's tricky to talk” campaign
Make a commitment
Track your journey
Involve people meaningfully
Integrate mental health
Be person- centred
Connect & collaborate
Improve knowledge & confidence
Champion mental health
Spot, support & signpost
