A determination to shatter the stigma around mental health has spread State-wide thanks to the efforts of Consumer Consultant Debbie Lattimore.
Ms Lattimore launched the Let’s Shatter Mental Health Stigma campaign in 2017 to raise awareness of the negative impact that stigma relating to mental illness has on individuals, their families and their recovery.
She was nominated by her peers and has received the Non-Clinical Excellence Award for using her own lived experience to develop the campaign.
Her nomination says Deb is exceptional contributor to the health service and the community.
“Even though it must be exhausting to tell her story over again Deb teamed up with several external partners to spread awareness of the campaign.
“Whether she is dealing with a colleague, consumer or partner Deb really embodies the values of collaboration, trust, respect and teamwork.”
The Let’s Shatter Mental Health Stigma campaign was adopted by a popular Mackay coffee shop to encourage their customers to seek help if they needed.
She also worked with the Mackay Cutters Change the Game campaign to raise awareness of mental health stigma.
The campaign has since been adopted State-wide with several other health services also wearing the branded shirts.
Deb continues to run education sessions for health workers and other organisations and shares her own story with participants to help challenge mental health stigma and make people aware of how their actions and languages can impact others.
Ways to challenge and eliminate stigma:
- Education
- Know the truth – learn about mental health facts instead of myths
- Share what you learn with others
- Be aware of the impact of your attitudes and behaviour
- Contact
- Welcome and encourage contact with people who have a mental illness to breakdown the fear of the unknown
- Protest
- Highlight the injustices of mental health stigma and request change
- Speak up if you witness inappropriate behaviour or comments
- Understand the power of the words you use and use them to bring positive change
