Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 4 March 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 6 March 2015. It was answered by Karen Bradley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 March 2015 on behalf of the Home Office.

Mental Illness

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as a result of signing up to the Time to Change Pledge.

Answer: The Home Secretary signed the Time to Change Pledge on 9 June 2014 showing her commitment to raising the profile of mental health issues in the workplace.

As part of the Home Department’s commitment, steps have included:

• The Home Office taking part in the Time to Talk day on 5 February 2015 with the aim of generating conversations about mental health. Staff were provided
with questions to stimulate conversations and literature about mental health.
• The Home Office taking a leading role in the development of the Mental Health Awareness e-learning produced for all civil servants.
• Support for the Home Office Disability Support Network’s four mental health awareness buddy networks which provide peer support and work to raise awareness of mental health issues.
• Break the Stigma, a programme of speakers to come into the department to raise awareness of mental health with the first being led by Sue Baker, the
Director of Time to Change.
• A steering group being established to lead implementation of our commitments to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination across the Department.

Secondary information