Blyth Spartans Kick Off ‘Time to Change’ with Town Mayor

It's Time to Change in the North East as England's most ambitious programme to end mental health prejudice launches in the region, kicking off in Blyth town centre on Friday 6 August.

During Time to Change Week, a roadshow will visit towns and cities across the region, with professional mental health advisers and people with real life experience of mental illness on hand to talk about their experiences. The roadshow also features a special giant pledge mosaic on which members of the public can make their own personal pledge to help banish the stigma around mental illness.

One in four people in England is likely to experience a mental health problem and Time to Change aims to break down stigma by encouraging people to be more supportive and understanding of family, friends and colleagues with a mental illness.

Blyth shoppers will have the opportunity to join Blyth Spartans footballers and the Mayor of Blyth, Alisdair Gibbs-Barton, to make their pledge to stamp out stigma, joining thousands of others across England including celebrities Stephen Fry and Frank Bruno who have already shown their support.

From 12 noon to 4pm on Friday 6 August the Time to Change roadshow will be at Blyth marketplace and people will be asked to make their pledge on the day by postcard, on a pledge board which will be part of a giant pledge mosaic or via the Time to Change website at www.time-to-change.org.uk

Professor Stephen Singleton, regional director of public health in the North East said: "Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are very common and likely to affect us all at some point in our lives, either personally or when supporting family members, friends or colleagues.

"It's important that people recognise the signs of mental illnesses, know where to turn for help and how they can support themselves and others. Everyday things like talking or being there to listen, increasing physical activity and eating a healthy, balanced diet can make a big difference in improving everyone's general mental health.

"Extensive work is already underway across the region to improve awareness, tackle discrimination and change public perceptions about mental health and the Time to Change campaign resonates very strongly with our regional vision for the health and wellbeing of North East people."

Blyth Spartans general manager Ian Evans said: "We very much support the Time to Change message; there is still stigma around mental illness and this campaign is a great way to get real people to tell their story and help change the negative attitudes of others."

Mayor of Blyth Alisdair Gibbs-Barton said: "Mental illnesses are often hidden and without any visible signs can be overlooked, or even worse ignored. Those experiencing mental health problems often suffer discrimination - in work, in their social lives and at home, and we all have a part to play in getting rid of this stigma."

Time to Change director Sue Baker said: "We know that face to face contact with someone who has experienced a mental health problem, who can talk openly and confidently about it, is key to transforming our understanding and attitudes. The north east events are a critical step in our journey to make mental health less of a taboo - much like cancer was thirty years ago. Many famous faces are behind our campaign, but we need everyday people to speak out as well."

During 'Time to Change Week', the regional roadshow will also visit Newcastle city centre on Saturday 7 August, the Tall Ships Race in Hartlepool on Sunday 8 August and Sunderland and Durham city centres on Monday 9 August.

Time to Change is led by the leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief, and supported by NHS North East through the Lottery Funded New Leaf New Life programme.

People can make a pledge online to help end mental health prejudice at www.time-to-change.org.uk