Cheshire Jets join campaign to challenge mental health stigma

Oct 1 2008 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER basketball team, Big Storage Cheshire Jets, have thrown their support behind a local NHS mental health trust campaign to challenge stigma.

The campaign, run by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, raises awareness of the stigma associated with mental illness, learning disabilities and drug and alcohol problems.

CWP membership engagement officer, Vicky Oxford, said: “One in four people will experience some form of mental ill-health during their lifetime. It’s great that the Big Storage Cheshire Jets can support our campaign, especially by wearing our T-shirts specifically designed to challenge the prejudices often faced.”

Director of the Jets, Peter Hawkins, said: “Our team contains iconic sporting role models who we know can have a positive effect in the community as evidenced through our Hoops for Health programme and we hope, through our involvement with the Foundation Trust in order to promote the stigma attached to mental health problems.”