One of the biggest challenges facing the mental health movement is awareness. This is critical not only to ensure those with mental health problems are aware of services and treatment facilities available to them – but also to set right the misconceptions surrounding intellectual and psychiatric disability and reduce the stigma and isolation of people with these conditions.

The promotion of mental well-being is equally important and the focus is on prevention rather than cure, through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Our Awareness Programme utilises media channels as well as developing information materials for distributuion within communities. These pamphlets and posters may be ordered online.

Currently, three media campaigns are conducted each year, to tie in with the three areas of mental health:

• Intellectual Disability awareness during March;
• Psychiatric Disability awareness during July;
• Mental well-being promotion and awareness during October – culminating in World Mental Health Day on October 10th

In addition, Casual Day, held annually on the first Friday of September, provides a further opportunity to focus public awareness on the mental health cause.