Shift will be coming to an end on 31 March 2011. We'd like to thank everyone who we have worked with over the past seven years, particularly those of you who helped shape our work through your comments, feedback and direct involvement.

The Shift website will be online until at least 2013, but we would recommend downloading any materials to make sure you have continued access.

You can also find our resources on these third-party websites:

Our resources on DocStoc: http://www.docstoc.com/profile/shiftstigma
Shift's videos and short films: http://www.youtube.com/user/shiftcsip
Shift's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shiftstigma
Shift's links: http://delicious.com/shiftstigma

Independent reviews of employment resources by the Shift Review Panel are now hosted on the Centre for Mental Health's website.

Time to Change, the charity sector anti-stigma campaign, is expected to continue - go to http://www.time-to-change.org.uk for more information

Thank you for all of your support,

The staff and experts at Shift

"Work brings a purpose... it's given me back my life... knowing other people believe in me and value my experiences."

Vicki talks about the support employers gave her during and after a period of illness, and the good that work does for her well-being and self-esteem.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is part of Shift's Working it Out resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout

"It's not about charity, it's an investment"

Jon talks about employing people with experience of mental health problems, as well as his own direct experience.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is included in Shift's Working it Out DVD resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, including how to request your own copy, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout

Jeremy gives his message to employers.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is included in Shift's Working it Out DVD resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, including how to request your own copy, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout

Making Drama out of a Crisis: Authentic Portrayals of Mental Illness in TV Drama

A new study published by Shift finds that, despite clear improvements over recent years, prime time TV drama struggles to present an accurate picture of mental illness.

Making Drama out of a Crisis aims to encourage writers, producers, directors and commissioners of television drama to enter into a debate about these issues and how they portray mental illness on TV. Mental health charities, experts and people with mental health problems are keen to join this discussion.

Making Drama out of a Crisis looks at three months of TV drama broadcast between 4pm and 11pm on UK terrestrial channels.

Researchers found 74 episodes from 34 different programmes that contained mental illness-related storylines.

Researchers also spoke to programme makers and members of the public - both with and without personal experience of mental health problems - about protrayals of mental illness in TV drama.

The report finds that:

• 45% of peak-time programmes with mental illness storylines portrayed people with mental health problems as posing a threat to others.
  
• 63% of references to mental health were pejorative, flippant or unsympathetic.
  
• 45% of programmes had sympathetic portrayals, but these often portrayed the characters as tragic victims.

Download the Making Drama out of a Crisis summary report
Download the Making Drama out of a Crisis full report
Find out more about Shift's work with the media
Find out more about research commissioned by Shift

Graham talks about how flexible hours and other adjustments have helped him back to work.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is included in Shift's Working it Out DVD resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, including how to request your own copy, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout

Richard explains how volunteering helped him learn new skills and extend his social networks after a spell in hospital.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is included in Shift's Working it Out DVD resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, including how to request your own copy, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout

Jeremy talks about how he disclosed his experience of bipolar disorder to his manager.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is included in Shift's Working it Out DVD resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, including how to request your own copy, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout

Shift are taking requests for copies of Working it Out, a new DVD-based resource for employers.

Working it Out is a comprehensive new resource pack designed to help raise awareness of mental health conditions in the
workplace and provide employers with practical advice and guidance on how best to support and manage a member of staff should they become unwell.

The DVD, free to employers and organisations based in England, includes a brand new set of short employment films with accompanying training notes and other resources.

The Working it Out DVD contains:

Working It Out employment films

The five short films show employees recounting their real-life experiences of mental health conditions within the workplace, mixed with dramatic reconstructions. The films also feature managers who describe how they effectively managed and supported their staff using best practice approaches.

Training notes that accompany the ‘Working it Out’ employment films. (PDF format)

These notes are to be used in conjunction with the five Working it Out film modules. They suggest discussion topics and activities for a facilitated training session.

The Shift Line Managers’ Resource (PDF format)

A 32-page practical guide to managing and supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace. It is recommended that this resource is used in conjunction with the training notes.

‘Life in the Office’ employment films.

Shift’s original employment films. A series fictional short films designed to raise awareness and encourage discussion of mental health in the workplace. The films also include an interview with one of the actors, who talks about his own personal experience of mental health problems.

Personal Stories.

Short film clips in which people talk about their real-life experience of mental health conditions at work and what has helped them to manage their condition and remain in work.

Working it Out is being made available for World Mental Health Day and will be distributed through-out England until Shift ends in March 2011. To request a free copy of the DVD, order them directly online by going to http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

You can also view the films and resources online at: http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, employment, workingitout, lifeintheoffice, lmr

Lol talks about how his employer and colleagues offered support and help during a period of illness.

Click here to watch the video.

This video is included in Shift's Working it Out DVD resource for employers. To find out more about Working it Out, including how to request your own copy, visit http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Would you like to be in one of our videocasts?

If you live in England and would like to find out how you can share your experiences of the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, email us at shift@nmhdu.org.uk. Read More...

Tags: shift, videos, videocast, podcast, employment, workingitout