Less common mental health problems being ‘left behind’

At a time when conversations around mental health are far more open and awareness of conditions are at an all-time high, new research commissioned by the mental health anti- stigma campaign, Time to Change, highlights how certain diagnoses, including schizophrenia, psychosis, and borderline personality disorder are being ‘left behind’ when it comes to attitudes towards mental health.

The research from the campaign surveyed over 4,000 people who identified as having lived experience of mental health problems and found that over a quarter (27 per cent) say discrimination against them a result of their condition has increased in the last decade. Despite heightened awareness and acceptance of mental health conditions, 84 per cent of people with experience of a mental health problem do not believe that perceptions of less common conditions such as such as schizophrenia, personality disorder and bipolar disorder have improved in the last 10 years.

Aston spoke to Jo Loughran, director at Time To Change to discuss how people with less common mental health problems are being ‘left behind’ despite progress being made to improve awareness and understanding of mental health.