loBBY tHe governMent
mind’s Stewart Lucas explains how he’s working to change people’s perceptions of those with mental health conditions, and how campaigning can help
“My passion is equality,” says Stewart Lucas, Chief executive of the Lancashire branch of mind. The 46-year-old dad has worked for the mental health charity for the past four years, and took the role so he could help influence the way mental health is perceived.
“mind has 136 local organisations which are spread across the UK,” he explains. “One of the main parts of my job is campaigning, lobbying, and trying to change people’s view on mental health. I believe a person with a mental health condition should be treated the same as someone without a mental health condition. A lot of the problem is how we as a society view mental health; we view people with conditions as someone who can’t function. What really interested me about mind is that rather than being about how we can cure mental health, it’s about how people with a mental health condition can operate as a full member of society.”
Stewart has also been a metal fan since the mid-80s, and says he’d love to see more people from the alternative community volunteering. “most of our volunteers tend to be retired people and your archetypal volunteer,” he says. “We don’t get young people from the alternative lifestyle, and I’d say that just because you’re into metal or have tattoos and piercings, it doesn’t stop you volunteering. I think young, alternative people get the idea of ‘they’re not gonna want me’ or think people will look at them [strangely] because of the way they look – there is still prejudice about our community.”
The judgement and bullying that some people face for their appearance or lifestyle can in itself lead to mental health issues, and that’s all the more reason, Stewart says, for people who might be considered unconventional to get involved with the cause. “It’s a decade since Sophie Lancaster’s murder but that prejudice is still there. We’d welcome with open arms more people from our community. I think there’s a feeling of ‘we like to be slightly distant and the mainstream does their thing’ but I think there’s a real opportunity there,” he says. To get people from the metal world on board, Stewart says he’d love to see mind have a presence at gigs and festivals, similar to the Samaritans tent at Bloodstock festival.
While volunteers are the “lifeblood” of mind’s work, Steve also works closely with the public sector in Lancashire to improve the way mental health is dealt with. “We lobby local government and the NHS, trying to get them to change the way they view mental health and make sure it gets the same investment as physical health,” he says.
Lobbying does have a positive effect, as demonstrated by mind’s work around the 2015 general election. 2,500 people sent the mind manifesto – which addressed issues like mental health funding and treatment referral times – to their local mP, and 100,000 people signed a petition on funding that was delivered to 10 Downing Street. In 2015, the Chief executive of mind chaired the mental Health Taskforce, which set out a five-year plan for the NHS’s mental health strategy.
But you don’t need to be part of an organisation or charity to lobby for change. “You don’t need a letter of permission from anyone – just go and do it!” Stewart urges. “The more voices we have talking positively about mental health, the better. You can write to your local mP about mental health care in your area, or get involved with your local branch of mind.”
“MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THE SAME INVESTMENT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH”
MIND SUPPORTERS HAVE LOBBIED THE GOVERNMENT FOR CHANGE
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MIND.ORG.UK/GET-INVOLVED