#IAmWhole – Rizzle Kicks' campaign to end mental health stigma
Pictured: Brighton MET staff and students
We went along to the Brighton i360 for the launch of the NHS #IAmWhole campaign to find out why.
What is the #IAmWhole campaign? Well, It’s people calling out the deep-rooted stigma surrounding mental health difficulties.
It’s people standing up together, to offer support to the hundreds of thousands of children and young people facing the challenges mental health difficulties bring.
As it turns out, lots of people feel pretty strongly about helping to create the changes our society needs to see to an end to mental health stigma…
People like Jordan Stephens, James Corden, Adele Roberts, Jamal Edwards, Ed Sheeran, Dermot O’Leary, Dom Jolly, Miquita Oliver and James Arthur!
Jordan Stephens, one half of Rizzle Kicks has released a single to promote the campaign, check out the video for his new track ‘Whole’ to see what everyone’s been talking about!
So what’s happened to get all these people on board? As we learnt at the #IAmWhole launch, it all started with a lot of research by the NHS and YMCA into mental health stigma and how it’s affecting young people aged 11-24.
The head of research at the YMCA presented their report at the launch, when I heard the statistics I was stunned and it genuinely made me sad.….
70% of people said that stigma made them less likely to talk to others about their mental health and a staggering 54% said that this stigma originates from friends and relatives…
I thought about people I know who have had mental health difficulties, and have made it through with help and support.
Isn’t it scary that so many young people feel they can’t ask for the help they need? Don’t you think it’s heart-breaking that it’s often because of the unintentional, but damaging stigma they experience from the people close to them?
I do.
When I watched the campaign video for #IAmWhole at the launch, it sent shivers down my spine and made me want to shout from the rooftops I AM WHOLE… and so are you.
Mental health difficulties do not make someone broken, so let’s be whole together and support the people we care for by combatting mental health stigma:
Challenge harmful language – so young people can ask for help and advice without fear of negative labels.
Encourage young people ask for support – from friends, parents, teachers, youth workers, or GP’s
Support people to find and get help – visit findgetgive.com an online mental health service directory designed by young people for young people
Empower young people to tackle stigma!
If you or someone you know suffers from mental health difficulties, please join us in supporting the #IAmWhole campaign.
And if there is someone you know that needs a little extra love, reach out and help them get the help they need. Here are some great resources they can access:
findgetgive.com – Mental health service directory designed by and for young people.
Sussex Mental Healthline – Call 0300 5000 101 for support and information if you’re worried about your mental health. Lines are open overnight from 5.00pm to 9.00am, Monday to Friday, and 24hrs a day during weekends and Bank Holidays.
Samaritans – If you need support and someone to turn to: Call 08457 90 90 90 – lines are open 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Or, you can visit the Samaritans Walk-in Service, Dubarry House, Newtown Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6AE – open from 10.00am to 10.00pm, 7 days a week.