NHS trust shows it support to World Down’s syndrome day by tackling stigma

March 21st 2010, is World Down’s Syndrome Day (WDSD), an annual event that promotes awareness and understanding of Down’s syndrome and the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is showing its support by reinforcing its anti-stigma poster campaign.

The annual observance of WDSD aims to mobilise support and recognition of the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with Down’s syndrome and the Trust is using its ‘Help us stop stigma in 2010’ poster campaign to renew its commitment to fight the stigma that so often surrounds people with mental health problems and learning disabilities.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health and learning disability services across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield and has always been committed to fighting the stigma that surrounds mental ill health and learning disability.

The Trust has distributed a series of posters around its own NHS and social care premises, GP surgeries, health centres and A&E departments across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield and also to local libraries, leisure centres and voluntary services in the areas in an effort to tackle stigma in local communities.

The designs were produced entirely in-house by the Trust (at no additional cost) over the last few years. One of the poster designs shows how people with learning disabilities can be discriminated against.

Chief Executive, Steven Michael, explained, “Stigma can be extremely damaging, making it harder for people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities to get the help they need, to recover and to live fulfilling lives. In fact, many people say that stigma is harder to deal with than the ill health itself. We hope that by displaying these posters in our local communities it will encourage people to think differently."

Local communities are encouraged to display posters in shops, places of worship, community settings or anywhere else they feel is appropriate. Posters can be obtained, free of charge, by calling 01924 327567 or emailing comms@swyt.nhs.uk

More information about Down’s syndrome can be found online at www.downs-syndrome.org.uk or you can contact their helpline on 0845 230 0372