If you are in emotional distress or despair call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 and speak to a counsellor immediately.

For support or information about mental health, call our Infoline team on 0808 189 0036

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Play your part in ending stigma and discrimination on World Mental Health Day 2025

Polling carried out by the UK Anti-Stigma Alliance last year found that 64% of people in Northern Ireland with experiences of mental ill health have felt shamed because of it.

We don’t think that’s ok. 

Do you?

Scroll down to find out more about the small changes that you can make to help end stigma, normalise asking for support and create a kinder community for all of us.

 

Check out our campaign videos below

(These words are being read by actors but they reflect the real-life experiences of the people Inspire supports)

What can you do?

  • Emphasise the individual, not the illness. For example, talk about “a person with schizophrenia” instead of “a schizophrenic”.
  • Consider how often you use casual terms like ‘lunatic‘ or ‘psycho‘ in everyday conversations.  These words aren’t usually meant to be discriminatory but, in reality, they describe mental illness in a negative way. 
  • Normalise language that makes it easier for people to seek support. Phrases like “They’re asking for support for their mental health” or “They are getting the help they need now, which is great for them” are good examples of this.
  • Speak up when you hear discriminatory language or jokes.
  • Encourage reflection by asking questions like “What do you mean by that?” or “Could we say that differently?”
  • Think before you share. Recognise negative or inaccurate portrayals of mental illness in the media and online, and don’t share them.
  • Get your information from reliable sources. The Community Wellbeing website is a good place to start.
  • Learn more about mental ill health, symptoms, recovery and how it affects people’s lives.
  • Listen to the voice of lived experience. Respect how people living with mental ill health describe their experiences. If unsure, ask: “How would you prefer I talk about this?“

Dealing with stigma and discrimination?

Start a conversation. Talk about what you’re going through. Find someone you can trust and speak to them about how you feel. Get tips here.

Self-compassion is key. There are a few ways we can practise self-compassion and it starts with knowing that we deserve help, support and care. Whether it’s spending time with friends and family or going for a walk, give yourself the space that you know you deserve.

There are a number actions that you can take to promote self-compassion, including mindfulness-based stress reduction and compassionate mind training.

Get support for your mental health here.

Need Support

We are here for you. If you’re over 18 and live in Northern Ireland, get in touch with our Infoline:

Our phonelines and webchat are open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

If you are in crisis or despair, you can call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or the Samaritans on 116 123. Both are available 24/7.

What is World Mental Health Day?

World Mental Health Day takes place annually on 10th October. It represents a great opportunity to start crucial conversations about mental health and drive positive change for everyone.

But positive mental health is, of course, important all year round.

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