Get Involved
January 2008
If you would like to help us tackle the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health, there are a number of ways you can get involved with our work.
We will be updating this page with ways in which you can help us. Sometimes, this may be a small task like writing a letter to a local service provider, reading some materials or making a phone call. Other times, there may be opportunities to attend meetings or take part in events in your area.
You can take part in as many or as few tasks as you like. If you don't want to take part in the latest task, you can either wait to see if the next task will be of more interest, or visit this page to see if older tasks are still open.
Enter your email address in the box below to subscribe to our free newsletter and make sure you hear of new tasks.
Let us know what you think of the new look website
August 2008
Let us know what you think of What's the Story
March 2008
Status: Open
Information: Shift's What's the Story? is a handbook for journalists and editors who are reporting on mental health and suicide. The handbook gives useful facts, figures and contacts, as well as tips for making sure that reporting is fair, accurate and in line with industry guidelines.
We would like your feedback to make sure we are providing the support and guidance that the media needs.
How to proceed:
Information: Shift's What's the Story? is a handbook for journalists and editors who are reporting on mental health and suicide. The handbook gives useful facts, figures and contacts, as well as tips for making sure that reporting is fair, accurate and in line with industry guidelines.
We would like your feedback to make sure we are providing the support and guidance that the media needs.
How to proceed:
- Visit the What's the Story? website (http://www.shift.org.uk/mediahandbook) and download a copy of the What's the Story? document
- Let us know what you think of the resource by completeing the online questionnaire: http://www.surveys.csip.org.uk/index.php?sid=69
Let us know what you think of the Line Managers' Resource
October 2007
Status: Open
Information: Shift's Line Managers' Resource is a practical guide for managing and supporting people with experience of mental health problems in the workplace.
We would like your feedback to make sure we are providing the support and guidance that employers need.
How to proceed:
Information: Shift's Line Managers' Resource is a practical guide for managing and supporting people with experience of mental health problems in the workplace.
We would like your feedback to make sure we are providing the support and guidance that employers need.
How to proceed:
- Visit the Line Managers' Web Resource (http://shift.org.uk/employers) and download a copy of the Line Managers' Resource document
- Let us know what you think of the resource by completeing the online questionnaire: http://www.surveys.csip.org.uk/index.php?sid=64
Let Shift's Independent Review Panel help develop your mental health materials for employers
October 2007
Status: Open
Information: Recently there has been an increase in the number mental health information produced for employers - many of very high quality - but with the attendant risk of duplication, employer confusion and in some cases of poor quality which serve to misinform or give unintended but nonetheless harmful messages.
In order to help organisations or individuals who are developing or trying to make such resources more widely available, Shift has asked the Sainsbury Centre to coordinate an Independent Review Panel which will advise on draft materials in development or review finished products against a common, published set of criteria. The service is free, confidential, and submission is entirely voluntary.
The advantages of submitting materials prior to completion are in having the views of experts at an early stage and the avoidance of costly mistakes. The Panel will give priority to advising on materials in development so as not to delay publication. Submission of finished products gives producers the added credibility of a published expert review and free publicity. It will also help producers in decision making about future improvements and new editions. Given that reviews will only be published with the producer's permission and that where a review is not published the submission will remain confidential, there is no risk to the organisation concerned.
How to proceed:
Information: Recently there has been an increase in the number mental health information produced for employers - many of very high quality - but with the attendant risk of duplication, employer confusion and in some cases of poor quality which serve to misinform or give unintended but nonetheless harmful messages.
In order to help organisations or individuals who are developing or trying to make such resources more widely available, Shift has asked the Sainsbury Centre to coordinate an Independent Review Panel which will advise on draft materials in development or review finished products against a common, published set of criteria. The service is free, confidential, and submission is entirely voluntary.
The advantages of submitting materials prior to completion are in having the views of experts at an early stage and the avoidance of costly mistakes. The Panel will give priority to advising on materials in development so as not to delay publication. Submission of finished products gives producers the added credibility of a published expert review and free publicity. It will also help producers in decision making about future improvements and new editions. Given that reviews will only be published with the producer's permission and that where a review is not published the submission will remain confidential, there is no risk to the organisation concerned.
How to proceed:
- For more information and instructions for submitting materials, please see the Shift Review Panel page.
Let us know if you find out about upcoming radio or TV programmes that feature mental health issues
September 2007
Status: Open
Information: We want to make sure that we have as much information as possible about how the media portray mental health issues. We already update our 'Mental Health in the Media' page with news of upcoming TV and radio programmes, but want to make sure that this resource is as complete as possible. If you hear of a programme due for broadcast that we haven't included on our list, please let us know.
How to proceed:
Information: We want to make sure that we have as much information as possible about how the media portray mental health issues. We already update our 'Mental Health in the Media' page with news of upcoming TV and radio programmes, but want to make sure that this resource is as complete as possible. If you hear of a programme due for broadcast that we haven't included on our list, please let us know.
How to proceed:
- If you hear of a programme that we should include on our 'Mental Health in the Media' page, email shift@csip.org.uk with the name of the programme, the broadcast date and channel and a short description.
- Remember that our 'Mental Health in the Media'
page is designed to alert people to programmes before
they are shown. If you have seen a programme and you
would like to comment on it, we would still be
interested to hear your views. You can also find out
how to praise or complain about TV and radio
programmes on our 'Responding
to Media Coverage' page.
Sign up as a Shift Media Monitor
August 2007
Status: Open
Information: Shift's Media Monitor service has been designed to help the media to produce a more accurate picture of mental health. It does this by encouraging people to make contact with journalists, editors and programme makers, explaining to them how their coverage of mental health issues makes people feel.
We would like people to let us know when they see coverage in the media that they feel is particularly good or bad. We would also like people to sign up as Media Monitors. We send alerts about good or bad articles and reports to Media Monitors with instructions how they can send praise or complain to the people responsible.
How to proceed:
Information: Shift's Media Monitor service has been designed to help the media to produce a more accurate picture of mental health. It does this by encouraging people to make contact with journalists, editors and programme makers, explaining to them how their coverage of mental health issues makes people feel.
We would like people to let us know when they see coverage in the media that they feel is particularly good or bad. We would also like people to sign up as Media Monitors. We send alerts about good or bad articles and reports to Media Monitors with instructions how they can send praise or complain to the people responsible.
How to proceed:
- Find out more on our Media Monitor page.
- If you send a comment or complaint to the people responsible for an article or report, we'd appreciate it if you could send copies of any emails or letters to us. See the Get In Touch page for all our contact details.
Tell us your positive experiences of employers and organisations
May 2007
Status: Open
Information: This month, we would like to hear about your positive experiences of organisations and employers and their attitudes and policies towards mental health issues. We would like to be able to use your experiences to help us understand what other organisations can do to help overcome the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health.
With your permission, we may also use some of your quotes and examples when talking with the general public and health professionals about issues surrounding stigma and discrimination.
How to proceed:
We would like to hear your experiences if you live in England and:
Write your experiences down in a short email or letter. You don't need lots of detail at this stage; if we want to know more, we can get in touch with you at a later point.
It is very important that you let us know if you are happy for us to share your quote with other people. We may also want to use your quote in leaflets or other materials produced by Shift. Unless you say otherwise, we will only give your first name and the county that you live in. If you prefer, we can use a pretend name.
You can send your comments to us by email or post. See the Get In Touch page for all our contact details.
Information: This month, we would like to hear about your positive experiences of organisations and employers and their attitudes and policies towards mental health issues. We would like to be able to use your experiences to help us understand what other organisations can do to help overcome the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health.
With your permission, we may also use some of your quotes and examples when talking with the general public and health professionals about issues surrounding stigma and discrimination.
How to proceed:
We would like to hear your experiences if you live in England and:
- You would like to tell us about an organisation that has impressed you with their positive attitude towards people with experience of mental health issues.
- You have noticed an employer or organisation change their policies in a way that reduces stigma and discrimination against people with experience of mental health issues.
- If you have been in touch with an organisation to point out a policy that discriminated against people with experience of mental health issues, and were successful in getting that policy changed.
- If you have suggestions for ways in which organisations and employers can improve their attitudes towards people with experience of mental health issues.
Write your experiences down in a short email or letter. You don't need lots of detail at this stage; if we want to know more, we can get in touch with you at a later point.
It is very important that you let us know if you are happy for us to share your quote with other people. We may also want to use your quote in leaflets or other materials produced by Shift. Unless you say otherwise, we will only give your first name and the county that you live in. If you prefer, we can use a pretend name.
You can send your comments to us by email or post. See the Get In Touch page for all our contact details.
Join the Shift Media Network
April 2007
Status: Open
Information: Shift are planning to launch a number of networks that will allow people with a specific interest in reducing stigma and discrimination to get in touch with each other, offer advice and share resources.
Membership of the second network, the Shift Media Network, is now open. The network is free to join and will be of interest to anyone who works with the media, and also to members of the public who want to encourage better representation of mental health issues in the media.
The Shift Media Network is still being set up, but we would like to encourage people to join and start using the network now so we can build up a picture of what parts of the network are the most useful and what parts need extra attention
How to proceed:
Information: Shift are planning to launch a number of networks that will allow people with a specific interest in reducing stigma and discrimination to get in touch with each other, offer advice and share resources.
Membership of the second network, the Shift Media Network, is now open. The network is free to join and will be of interest to anyone who works with the media, and also to members of the public who want to encourage better representation of mental health issues in the media.
The Shift Media Network is still being set up, but we would like to encourage people to join and start using the network now so we can build up a picture of what parts of the network are the most useful and what parts need extra attention
How to proceed:
- Visit the Shift Media Network to browse the resources that have already been uploaded.
- Joining the network allows to to add your own resources, review and comment on items and post in the group forum. If you would like to join, click on the red 'register' button on each page of the network. If you are already a member of the Knowledge Community, sign in and then click the 'Join this group' link.
- If you know of anyone else who may be interested in joining the network, please forward these details on to them.
- Let us know if you have any comments or questions about the Media Network or any of the other networks that we will be setting up in coming months.
- Keep looking at the Shift website to find out about other networks as they are launched
Join the Shift Sports Network
March 2007
Status: Open
Information: Shift are planning to launch a number of networks that will allow people with a specific interest in reducing stigma and discrimination to get in touch with each other, offer advice and share resources.
We have now opened membership to the Shift Sports Network. The network is free to join and will be of interest to anyone who is involved in a project that uses sports to promote mental health, or to people who want to learn more about how to set up their own project or join an existing one.
The Shift Sports Network also features our Football Match Up service which allows football teams that include people with a history of mental health problems to get in contact with each other to arrange fixtures or set up tournaments. It also allows people who want to join a football team to find out about sides in their area. You can find out more about Match Up here.
How to proceed:
Information: Shift are planning to launch a number of networks that will allow people with a specific interest in reducing stigma and discrimination to get in touch with each other, offer advice and share resources.
We have now opened membership to the Shift Sports Network. The network is free to join and will be of interest to anyone who is involved in a project that uses sports to promote mental health, or to people who want to learn more about how to set up their own project or join an existing one.
The Shift Sports Network also features our Football Match Up service which allows football teams that include people with a history of mental health problems to get in contact with each other to arrange fixtures or set up tournaments. It also allows people who want to join a football team to find out about sides in their area. You can find out more about Match Up here.
How to proceed:
- Visit the Shift Sports Network to find out more information and for brief instructions explaining how to join and get the most from the network.
- If you know of anyone else who may be interested in joining the network, please forward these details on to them.
- Let us know if you have any comments or questions about the Sports Network or any of the other networks that we will be setting up in coming months.
- Keep looking at the Shift website to find out about other networks as they are launched
Tell us about the work that you've done over the past year to combat stigma and discrimination
February 2007
Status: Open
Information: Next month will be one year since Shift's International Conference on the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health issues. If you came to the conference - or even if you couldn't make it - we would very much like to hear about the work that you've done in the past year to combat stigma and discrimination.
If you have any tips or advice for other people working in this area, we'd love to hear them too. We'll post a selection of comments and tips on the Shift website.
How to proceed:
Please email your comments to shift@csip.org.uk. You can also write to us using the address on the About Us page.
Information: Next month will be one year since Shift's International Conference on the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health issues. If you came to the conference - or even if you couldn't make it - we would very much like to hear about the work that you've done in the past year to combat stigma and discrimination.
If you have any tips or advice for other people working in this area, we'd love to hear them too. We'll post a selection of comments and tips on the Shift website.
How to proceed:
Please email your comments to shift@csip.org.uk. You can also write to us using the address on the About Us page.
Complete the online Action on Stigma questionnaire
January 2007
Status: Closed - Thank you for your comments!
