Step 1: Identify the issue, who it may affect and how

Read here about some approaches to identifying the positive changes you would like to see to ensure that services are free from stigma and anti-discrimination.

Spotlight on learning from local partner Moray Wellbeing Hub

The content displayed on this page was produced by Moray Wellbeing Hub and describes their reflections, experiences and learning over the years about lived experience leadership in driving change in healthcare / mental health services.

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When you want to influence positive change in relation to healthcare it can seem like a massive task. Step one is working out what the issue is; who is it affecting, and how? It is important to be as specific as possible, so you can later identify how to go about influencing change.

Try to reflect without judgement and be honest about your or someone else’s experience - any negative attitude or behaviour might come from good intentions; for example, people can act to protect others to keep them safe but unintentionally this leads to disempowering them or making them feel powerless.

The following questions might help you think this through:

  • Have you or someone you know experienced stigma or discrimination in relation to mental health in a healthcare or social care setting?
  • Have you seen something in the news or media that you felt was unfair (e.g. closing a GP practice in your local area, reducing budgets for specific healthcare or social care services, etc.)?
  • What was it that you/others found stigmatising, disempowering or unfair in the way you/they were treated?
  • What was the impact of that experience on you/others?

“Not everyone is able to shout. I want to break down barriers, be a voice for myself and others.”

“I just want it to stop, it’s about being heard and getting your voice heard, it’s about getting their understanding to change.”

Lived experience example of mental health stigma and discrimination in healthcare

Mary experiences a mental health problem; her GP practice is aware of this. Mary agreed with her GP that because of the way she takes her medication, Mary might need to call at short notice for an appointment; the GP adds this to Mary’s notes to make the process easier for Mary.

After giving it a lot of consideration, Mary calls the GP practice to book an appointment; the receptionist that picks up her call advises Mary that the GP cannot see her at such short notice and she needs to book an appointment for later in the week. Despite Mary advising the receptionist to look at the notes, she is quickly dismissed – the receptionist tells Mary there is a waiting list and she needs to wait like everyone else; no ‘special treatment’ is allowed in the GP practice. Mary politely ends the call.

Mary is left feeling embarrassed, unsupported, frustrated and angry - this is not the first time this has happened and, despite all her efforts to make her needs heard, she feels like nobody is listening. Mary wonders what the point of those notes are, and starts to doubt how genuine her GP is about helping her manage her condition. She decides not to call back and, instead, despite feeling financial pressures already, find a way to see a private doctor, though she knows this might require securing a loan from her family, which she would prefer not to do and adds to her already unmanageable anxiety.