Shift is an initiative to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding
mental health issues in England. Our aim is to create a society where
people who experience mental health problems enjoy the same rights and
opportunities as other people.

Shift has been extended to 2011 and has made much progress so far this
year.

++ Media ++

We are delivering training on reporting mental illness and suicide to
trainee journalists at post-graduate and vocational journalism college
and universities. So far this training has received very positive
feedback.

We are working closely with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and
leading mental health charities to change the news agenda around
mental illness and violence. We intend to get across the 'other side
of the story', stressing that most people with mental health problems
are not violent, when the media reports on homicides perpetrated by
mental health patients. This collaborative project, called 'Context'
is due to be up and running in late autumn, 2008.

We have now commissioned the charity Ok2b to run the stigma stopwatch
system which is due to launch in March 2009.

We have commissioned a consultancy to undertake 12 focus groups to
examine the role of the media in the shaping public fears of people
with mental health problems.

Previous work includes the publication earlier this year of 'What's
the story?', a guide for journalists on reporting mental illness and
suicide. It was endorsed by key media figures including Channel 4 News
presenter Jon Snow, chat show host Trisha and the BBC's home editor
Mark Easton. It tackles the difficult issue of violence, by
encouraging journalists to set violent crime linked to mental illness
into the wider context that most people with mental health problems
are not violent. More than 10,000 copies of handbook were distributed
to journalists across England. Credit-card sized reminders with key
tips and a website version were also produced.

To find out more about What's the Story, visit:
http://www.shift.org.uk/mediahandbook

Shift is continuing to operate its Speakers Bureau, a bank of 40
people with mental health problems or informal carers who talk to the
media and at public events about their experiences to breakdown
stereotypes and pre-conceptions. This year we are recruiting more
speakers from a black and minority ethnic background in recognition of
the fact that the stigma of mental illness is worse amongst these
groups.

To find out more about the Shift Speakers' Bureau, visit:
http://www.shift.org.uk/speakersbureau

We have also published electronically 'Mind over Matter II' our annual
analysis of media coverage. This year's report looked at coverage in
March and October 2006 and found little improvement in reporting from
the previous year.  Mind over Matter III is due to be published
towards the end of this year.

To download a copy of Mind Over Matter 2, visit:
http://snipurl.com/mindovermatter2

++ Black and Minority Ethnic Communities ++

We have commissioned several organisations to undertake work on Black
and Minority Ethnic Communities that experience a double stigma of
mental illness.

The Newcastle and Gateshead Art Studio 'Black and White' a
photographic exhibition is being produced by members of a diverse
community in Newcastle.
These Photographs will soon be available for exhibitions and
electronically via the Shift website.

Shift has commissioned the production company Azko Films and made a
short film called 'Open Secrets' about shame, mental illness and a
middle class Asian family. The film stars Saeed Jaffrey and Valmike
Rampersad and will be launched on 27 November. We are currently
piloting the film with Community Development Workers to explore ways
of using it to maximum effect.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust have been commissioned to
do a Qualitative and Quantitative Research Project looking at the
coverage of mental health stories in African Caribbean media.  This
work is due to be completed by the end of November.

Ethnic Communications have completed a Qualitative Research Project
looking at the handling of mental health content in the South Asian
media.

The Delivering Racial Equality Conference taking place in March 2009
will be the public launch all of this work.

++ Employment ++

Around 25,000 copies of the Shift Line Manager's Resource have been
distributed across England with a focus on Government Departments and
public services.  Shift has spoken at a number of national events
including Health and Wellbeing @ work, and will be presenting at
events in the coming months to promote the resource.

For copies of the Line Managers' Resource please email
employment@csip.org.uk or go to http://www.shift.org.uk/employers

The Shift Review Panel has started work and the first reviews of
materials produced for employers are now available via the Shift
website.  We have launched a new website with Sainsbury Centre for
Mental Health to help employers navigate the wealth of advice, and
resources on managing mental health in the workplace.The reviews will
enable employers to target the most appropriate resources for their
needs.

To find out more about the Shift Review Panel, visit:
http://shift.org.uk/reviewpanel

Shift has commissioned three short films to be made about mental
health, employment, stigma and discrimination.  Training packages are
currently being developed to go with the films.  This work will be
launched by the end of the year.

To find out more about our employment work, visit:
http://www.shift.org.uk/work/employment

++ Football ++

Shift, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers'
Association co-hosted the first national five-a-side tournament for
people with experience of mental health problems and held a conference
at the City of Manchester Stadium looking at football and mental
health.

The Mad About Football Tournament was attended by former England
captain Tony Adams and Phil Hope, Minister of State for Care Services.

Speakers at the Mad About Football Conference included Mental Health
Czar Louis Appleby, Dr Alan Pringle an expert in football and mental
health, the BBC's Ray Stubbs and ex-Man City player Jeff Whitley.

For more information about the Mad About Football events, including
photos and video, visit:
http://shift.org.uk/madaboutfootball

Shift is part of the Mental Health Advisory Group set-up in
partnership with the FA, PFA, Premier League, Football Foundation and
Sporting Chance.

To find out more about our sports work, visit:
http://www.shift.org.uk/work/sport

++ Shift on the Web ++

Shift has launched a new version its website and is testing the use of
a number of social networking tools. Shift has also updated the Line
Managers' Web Resource and the What's the Story media microsite.

Please be aware that these changes may mean that some old bookmarks
may no longer work. Please email shift@csip.org.uk if you need help.

See the new Shift website here:
http://www.shift.org.uk

Facebook members can follow our work here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shift/18052500287

See our bookmarks on Delicious here:
http://delicious.com/shiftstigma

Follow our Twitter feed here:
http://twitter.com/shiftstigma

The updated Line Managers' Web Resource is here:
http://www.shift.org.uk/employers

The update What's the Story microsite is here:
http://www.shift.org.uk/mediahandbook

++ Get Involved ++

The Shift website lists a number of ways in which you can help us with
the work that we do.

To find out more, please visit:
http://www.shift.org.uk/getinvolved

Tags: shift, update