A TEAM of Swindon groups, good causes and councillors will tackle the stigma of mental health around the town.

The new local Time to Change hub will be made up of Swindon Borough Council, Age UK, AWP, Phoenix Enterprises, IPSUM, Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind, Swindon STEP, Stratton Parish Council, The Olive Tree Cafe and local champions,

Time to Change Swindon will combine the insights of the national Time to Change campaign with local knowledge to help communities, workplaces and schools take action to end negative attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems.

Cabinet member for adults and mental health champion Coun Brian Ford said: “I’m delighted that Swindon has become a Time to Change Hub. We’ll be working with many local providers to highlight the support available in the town to make sure we’re all looking after our mental health, in the same way we look after our physical health.”

Time to Change, the national campaign run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, launched its first regional hubs in March 2017. The announcement of eight more funded hubs, including Swindon, is part of the campaign’s three-year plan to establish a network across England to provide a focus for local campaigning work.

Director Jo Loughran said: “When one in four of us will fight a mental health problem in any given year and suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 40, it’s vital that we come together to end mental health stigma. Our network of Time to Change Hubs are able to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in their community.”