Groundbreaking Mental Health Campaign Launched By Royals
29 March 2017, 23:00
Nearly half of people have discussed mental health in the past three months, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry call for a national conversation on the issue.
The Royals’ ‘Heads Together’ campaign’s releasing the first of 10 films featuring people revealing to somebody about how they first opened up about their problem.
Musician Stephen Manderson (Professor Green) and Cricketer Freddie Flintoff talk together, model Adwoa Aboah with her mum, comedian Ruby Wax and her husband Ed; two paramedics based in Blackpool, London blogger Jo Irwin and her mum, two mums of young children and writer Alastair Campbell talking with his partner, Fiona.
It follows the most comprehensive survey on mental health for 20 years by YouGov showed 46% have talked mental health and a quarter about their own battle with it.
But men are less likely to talk than women with 54% of women having had a conversation compared to 37% of men.
And the young in Britain are leading the way with 57% of 18-24’s having had a conversation about mental health, compared to 51% of 25-49’s, 44% of 50-64’s and 32% of those over the age of 65*
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry said "Since we launched Heads Together last May, we have seen time and time again that shattering stigma on mental health starts with simple conversations. When you realise that mental health problems affect your friends, neighbours, children and spouses, the walls of judgement and prejudice around these issues begin to fall. And we all know that you cannot resolve a mental health issue by staying silent.
"Attitudes to mental health are at a tipping point. We hope these films show people how simple conversations can change the direction of an entire life. Please share them with your friends and families and join us in a national conversation on mental health in the weeks ahead."
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, which is one of the Heads Together Charity Partners, said: “It is truly groundbreaking to see so many people, from all walks of life, sharing their mental health experiences on film in the hope of inspiring others to strike up their own conversation. These films have the power to spark life-changing and, in some cases, life-saving conversations. We hope that there will be a snowball effect with more and more people seeing the benefits of speaking out and supporting each other.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are spearheading the Heads Together campaign to build on the great work that is already taking place across the country, to ensure that people feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing, feel able to support their friends and families through difficult times, and that fear no longer prevents people talking or getting the help they need.
Heads Together brings together a team of Charity Partners that have achieved great progress in tackling stigma, raising awareness, and providing vital help for people with mental health problems. The team covers a wide range of mental health issues that are close to The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry's passions. They are:
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
- Best Beginnings
- CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably
- Contact (a military mental health coalition)
- Mind
- Place2Be
- The Mix
- YoungMinds
The privilege of being the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year gives Heads Together a positive platform to start millions of conversations and raise funds for specific projects designed to help people with their mental health.
*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
Total sample size was 5003 British adults (aged 18+) and the figures have been weighted to
be representative of the population.
Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st-28th February 2017.
The survey was carried out online.
