The Awareness, Media and Information (AMI) Project is a mental health anti-stigma project based in Leamington Spa and covering Coventry and Warwickshire.
It has received funding from Comic Relief for three years. During this time, it aims to challenge stigma and discrimination surrounding mental ill health and to promote positive images of people who experience mental ill health.
The project is run by the South Warwickshire User Forum for Mental Health and has employed a Media Action Worker, Heather Payne, to co-ordinate activities.
The AMI Project has three main areas of work:
Media Watch Group
A Media Watch Group of local service users and survivors has been set up which meets every fortnight at the Community Arts Workshop, Leamington Spa.
The group monitors both positive and negative reporting of mental health issues by local newspapers, radio, television, the internet and in magazines.
We welcome volunteers who are mental health service users or survivors to join in the Media Watch Group. To find out more, contact heather@swuf.org.uk
TalkBank
A ‘TalkBank’ of volunteers is being developed, which is literally a group of volunteers who are willing to share their stories of emotional distress and mental ill health with the media.
Media training is offered to those involved in the TalkBank, covering areas such as media awareness and interview techniques.
The TalkBank will also be developed as a resource for local journalists. In a recent survey, 62% of journalists interviewed, covering both regional and national newspapers, said the main barrier to contacting people with mental health problems is that they are not sure who to contact. The AMI project aims to change all that!
Arts Based Positive Image Campaign
Finally, the AMI Project will run an arts based positive image campaign each year to promote positive images of mental health through an arts-based medium.
During 2009, we will be working on member video diaries, explaining what mental distress and recovery means to us, and a longer film exploring the subject of mental health stigma. If you'd like to get involved, contact heather@swuf.org.uk
The campaign for 2008 featured photography. We were pleased to be able to include the work in the Open Up Arts Exhibition which ran from 10 October to 31 October 2008 at The Old Art Gallery in Leamington Spa.
The photography exhibition is now looking for temporary homes. If you are able to hold a mini-exhibition and help combat the stigma of mental ill health, please let us know!
Participants in the Photograhy Workshop. Thursday 11 September 2008, Community Arts Workshop, Leamington Spa.
The workshop was run by James Lister Sinfield. Click here to view his work and for contact details.