TIME TO CHANGE - MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN TO CHALLENGE THE STIGMA OF MH ILLNESSES
by Nicki Coughlin, National CWU DSNAC committee member December 2009

A while ago I let you all know about my involvement with the forthcoming Time to Change mental health campaign aimed at tackling the stigma of mental health in employment.

The Time to Challenge campaign is now launched online at several internet locations and I am very proud to say that the CWU are at the heart of this national campaign.

Luckily for all I was not required to appear on film as another employee story covering Bi-Polar became available. However, I spent much time and effort in assisting MIND and ThinkTV in the project.

I am VERY proud to say that a CWU East Midlands Branch member, Sofie Umar, was more than happy to speak about her experiences working in Leicester 151 call centre. In addition, a Leicester OpenReach SMC manager (ex CWU member) spoke about his experience when he worked closely with the CWU locally, to support a CWU member in his team in Leicester . Although the member could not appear, he was more than happy to agree that his team manager spoke about his experience of managing a person with mental health illness.

We spent a very long and hot Saturday together filming at Victoria Park in Leicester . See their contributions at;

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/what-we-are-doing/time-challenge/new-section/employees/real-life-stories

In addition, located on the website, in the section for employers>case studies, you will find that the CWU are highlighted for the work of the union within industry in the area of mental health in the workplace. This provides a direct link to the CWU website.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/what-we-are-doing/time-challenge/new-section/employers/i-am-line-manager/case-studies

As previously promised,I will set about writing an article for a CWU publication (DiF/Equality Bulletin) about the day's filming, campaign and CWU involvement as soon as I get a spare nano second???

Nicki