A new training pack has been launched today to help reduce the stigma and discrimination sometimes experienced by people when using mental health services.

NHS England has worked with Time To Change, England’s biggest programme to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination, to develop and fund a project which aims to better understand the dynamics of relationships between people who use services and NHS professionals. Insight from research, focus groups and individual interviews, demonstrated that a high number of people using mental health services felt they experienced stigma and discrimination.

This insight helped Time To Change to work with mental health professionals and service users to identify examples of good practice as well as the barriers which can sometimes stand in the way of positive interactions. The resulting training pack focuses on the positive changes which can improve both team culture and working practices.