Riverside Student Campaigns to End Mental Health Discrimination

Emma Blackall, studying on the Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Health & Social Care at Riverside College, is campaigning for Time to Change, an anti-stigma campaign run by the leading mental health charities MIND and Rethink Mental Illness.

Emma, along with her sister, were chosen to feature in a video discussing mental health issues and the care and support they provide their father who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The video was filmed across Anfield Stadium and Stanley Park and aims to encourage sufferers of mental health issues to not be afraid to discuss their experiences.

Emma also had the opportunity to visit Harrow College in North West London on World Mental Health Day at a MIND event where young people – ‘Time to Change champions’ – were able to talk about stigma and discrimination in mental health.

Attending the event were The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who Emma was able to meet. She said, “It was an amazing experience to meet them both, I was mesmerised to meet a real life princess. Prince William commented that it was great how we are supporting each other as a family.

“I feel it’s very important to share our experience and help people become aware of mental health discrimination, even if it helps just one person it will have been worth taking part.”

If you would like to take part in the campaign and discover some of the small things you can do, or share some of your own, visit www.time-to-change.org.uk

To watch the watch Emma’s video, see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jmuv2rffgA

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