Aim
To embed the Shatter the Stigma mental health campaign across our HHS, raising awareness, changing culture, supporting staff and embedding positive workplace behaviours.
Outcomes
Elimination of stigma associated with mental health to positively enhance consumer, staff and community experience.
The HHS aligned the program with our existing mental health governance model and implemented an STS steering committee to oversee the program.
The initiative is focused on key target areas: raising awareness through promotion activities; ongoing meaningful education; and supporting our staff. One of the key strategies of success has been the STS champion program, that has enabled the program to be led and promoted by our staff on the ground, and provide genuine education and support to all the teams across the HHS.
Background
Feedback from consumers and staff was emerging that they had experienced or witnessed stigma when accessing mental health care from our HHS, and feeling they were being treated differently if presenting for mental health challenges or physical health challenges. Knowing that one of the biggest reasons people don’t seek help when they need it is due to stigma, and hearing that some of our own staff held negative attitudes about people experiencing mental health challenges, we felt that we needed to embark on a sustainable program across all areas of our HHS, not just mental health.
Shatter the Stigma raises awareness of the negative impact that the stigma relating to mental illness has on individuals, their families and their recovery. It also recognises that, by feeling stigmatised or ashamed, people may be less inclined to seek support or access services when they’re experiencing challenges.
