Programme seeks to fund projects combating mental health discrimination
Protecting human rights of people experiencing mental health problems is the priority of a new Scottish funding initiative.
See Me, the mental health discrimination campaign, has £230,000 available to projects which can change the way people behave towards those with mental health problems.
The programme is looking for projects which can tackle stigma in workplaces, in health and social care, with children and young people, in minority groups and in the general public.
This year’s Community Innovation Fund is the largest amount to ever be made available to fund these types of projects in Scotland.
In previous years See Me has funded projects ranging from changing the way mental health is viewed in the justice system, to tackling discrimination towards students at university and passengers on buses, to creating public art and drama exhibitions.
The Hope Café, in Lanark, received funding from See Me last year for their Bun and Blether project.
We are creating a movement of people, groups and organisations all over Scotland who care about injustice and equal rights
The project takes workshops into organisations where they open up conversations on mental health over their ‘depressed cakes’.
Lisa Cameron, from Hope Café, said: “The funding from See Me has created two paid positions for our project. These positions have enabled us to create, continue to develop and deliver the workshops across Lanarkshire.
“We are encouraging organisations that it’s not enough to just talk about mental health.
“We stress that it is vital that they make changes to the language they use and the behaviours they display towards their colleagues experiencing challenges to their mental health.”
For the first time this year See Me also has £2,000 available to help people to create networks and start the process of developing and delivering projects.
Judith Robertson, See Me programme director, said: “We are creating a movement of people, groups and organisations all over Scotland who care about injustice and equal rights in society.
“The Community Innovation Fund is vital in bringing so many amazing ideas to life and allows us to support real changes in communities.
“However this funding will not just allow people to make changes in their area, but through our networks will allow people to share ideas, so they can inspire each other to make real changes all over the country.
“What is great about these projects is that they are led by people with lived experience of mental health problems, who are at the front of the drive for change.”
Application deadline is 31 May.
