By Bryony Mole, Project Officer, See Me Scotland
See Me is Scotland’s national programme tackling mental health stigma and discrimination. We are encouraging people to take action to address mental health stigma by having open conversations about mental health.
Addressing mental health stigma and discrimination is essential within rural settings. Key research about rural mental health highlights the need to have more open conversations about mental health and challenge the stigma around mental illness:
- The Farm Safety Foundation reported that 92% of farmers under the age of 40 suggest poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today (2022).
- Samaritans survey has discovered that men in rural areas (43%) are less likely than men in urban areas (51%) to reach out for support or talk to someone if they are struggling with their mental health (2022).
Stigma is a big barrier to being open about mental health concerns, the Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study (2022) highlights the prevelance of mental health stigma and discrimination in Scotland, stating:
- 92% of participants say that they have experienced stigma in relationships with family and friends in the last year
- 79% of participants stated they had withdrawn from relationships with family because of mental health stigma and 90% said they had withdrawn from relationships with friends
- 77% of participants stated they had been treated unfairly at work because of mental health stigma
The study also emphasised that the life areas most impacted by experiences of stigma and discrimination because of mental illness(es) in last 12 months for participants were relationships with friends and family and employment. For many in family run businesses the issue of mental health stigma can be particularly challenging as the lines between professional roles and personal relationships often overlap. In this environment there may be fear that concerns about workplace stress and mental health could impact family relationships or bring additional stressors to loved ones which can prevent people from being open about their mental health and seek the help they may need.
Being open about mental health can be challenging and people may not always feel confident as to how to respond. To support open conversations about mental health See Me have created 'It’s Okay to Talk' cards to support these discussions. This resource is intended to make it feel a bit easier to ask someone how they are, and have a conversation on mental heath, especially if you think they might be struggling. It also has tips if you want to open up a conversation on your own mental health. This resource can help support conversations with colleagues, friends, and family members.
Our 'It’s Okay to Talk' cards can be found here.
If you want to find out more about mental health stigma and discrimination, its impact on people’s lives, and tips and resources to address it, please go to the See Me website to explore our resources and campaigns.
If you are interested in learning more about mental health in the workplace, See Me are part of the Supporting a Mentally Healthy Workplace National Learning Network for Employers who host quarterly events about mental wellbeing at work. To find out more click here .
