See Change
About
See Change is Ireland’s national mental health stigma reduction partnership. Our work is informed by people with lived experiences of mental health difficulties, including our 50+ Ambassadors, who are best placed to give insight into mental health stigma and discrimination.
It is See Change’s vision that every person in Ireland can be open and positive about mental health, understanding that it as a normal part of life’s ups and downs.
See Change is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the National Office of Suicide Prevention (NOSP), who help to ensure the continued running of our mental health stigma reduction projects, research and campaigns.
See Change is a project of Shine, along with Headline, Ireland’s national media programme for responsible reporting and representation of mental ill health and suicide. Shine is a national organisation that provides information and support for people affected by mental health difficulties and their families.
Projects
See Change Ambassador Programme
See Change Ambassadors are people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, who share their story to challenge the stigma around mental health.
See Change currently has 50+ Ambassadors who are trained to responsibly tell their story about living with a mental health difficulty in the media, as well as through:
Ambassador Talks
Our Ambassadors deliver talks about their experience of living with a mental health difficulty at various events and workplaces.
Stigma Presentations
Our Ambassadors deliver presentations looking at stigma and the negative impacts it can have on a person living with a mental health difficulty.
See Change Sessions Podcast
The See Change Sessions is a podcast hosted by Mental Health Advocate and See Change Ambassador Abigail McDonnell. Throughout the series, Abigail talks to an array of other Ambassadors, Mental Health Volunteers and workers who share their personal stories to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
To listen to our podcast series, visit: See Change Sessions with Alittlegail | SeeChange
Green Ribbon Campaign
Every year, See Change run a month-long national Green Ribbon campaign to encourage people in Ireland to end mental health stigma and discrimination. We provide 500,000 ribbons free of charge across Ireland to help start national conversations about mental health.
By wearing the Green Ribbon – an international symbol for mental health awareness – you show you are committed to influencing positive change. You don’t need to be an expert to start talking about mental health or have all the answers.
To find out more information about the Green Ribbon campaign, visit: See Change | Green Ribbon | Say No to Mental Health Stigma | SeeChange
If your organisation is in the Republic of Ireland, you can order your free Green Ribbons by emailing info@seechange.ie
See Change Workplace Programme
See Change has identified the workplace as a key setting for social change around attitudes to mental health problems to take place. We have developed a six-step pledge programme to help Irish workplaces create an open culture around mental health and play a role in challenging mental health stigma.
The programme includes workshops, templates and a suite of resource documents to help organisations and staff implement real change.
For more information on the See Change Workplace Programme visit: www.seechange.ie/see-change-in-your-workplace
If your organisation is in Ireland, you can sign up to the See Change Workplace Programme, by emailing us at workplace@seechange.ie
Downloadable Resources
Mental Health Matters
A guide to ending mental health stigma in the workplace
This guide is aimed at employers and employees who want to create a workplace culture where everyone feels comfortable having open and honest conversations about mental health.
After reading this booklet, you will be able to:
- Understand what mental health stigma is
- Be able to recognise stigmatising behaviours in the workplace
- Be equipped with the tools to challenge stigma in the workplace
- Understand more about the legislation in relation to mental health in the workplace
This guide is available to download from our website: https://seechange.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Mental-Health-Matters-web.pdf
Stand Up to Stigma
Changing the language we use when talking about mental health
This guide will educate the reader on how language around mental health could stigmatise a person with a mental health difficulty. It looks at how we can challenge our behaviours so that people feel more comfortable about their mental health.
After reading this booklet, you will be able to:
- Understand what mental health stigma is
- Understand the impact that stigma has on people with mental health difficulties
- Identify and challenge the language and behaviours that could stigmatise a person
- Be more comfortable having open and honest conversations about mental health difficulties
- Create a more inclusive environment for people living with mental health difficulties
This booklet is available in the publication section of our website: See Change list of publications | SeeChange
A New Reality
Living with Covid-19
This guide will help the reader to understand anxiety brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, and how to improve your experience of returning to the workplace. It also includes tips to help you manage your family and home life.
This guide is available to download from our website: Return-to-Work-Covid-Booklet.pdf (seechange.ie)
What is Stigma?
A guide to understanding mental health stigma
This guide will help the reader to understand what mental health stigma is, dispel some of the myths associated with mental health, and provide practical advice about how to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
This guide is available to download from our website: See-Change-Wha.pdf (seechange.ie)
Lets talk about Mental Illness
A guide to understanding the stigma and shame that people living with a mental illness can experience
This guide will help the reader to understand different mental illnesses and shine a light on how stigma, shame and discrimination are still a significant challenge for people living with mental illness.
This guide is available to download from our website: See-Change-Wha.pdf (seechange.ie)
