Winter 2009 editorial: Making it count
One of the things we avoid at One in Four is making predictions. We’d rather look at things that have happened and explore ways that you can make the best of them, rather than spend precious pages talking about things that might not occur.
There is, however, one thing that we can predict with complete certainty for 2010. It’s something that will affect all of us and in which we all have a potential role to play.
What is this massive event? In 2010 there will be a general election. Soon, every party will be competing for the affection and allegiance of the public. You won’t be able to move for politicians making promises and talking about the kind of country we should have.
And what role do we play? It’s we who have the power to elect one set of politicians over another, one government or another. And it’s we who have the power to make mental health a real issue both in the campaign and for whichever party forms the next government.
The first step in doing this is to make sure that you take advantage of your vote. Make sure that you are registered to vote. Politicians always pay attention to people who might vote for them. The more they want your vote, the more they will listen to your concerns and ideas. If you don’t have a vote for them to chase, they’re likely to pass you by on their way to the next potential supporter.
Don’t fall for the line that it doesn’t matter if you vote or not. It does. Whichever political party forms the next government will make decisions that will affect any health care you receive, how any support you receive works and potentially, how mental health difficulty is regarded.
Contact your MP now and ask what she or he is doing to make life better for people with mental health difficulties and tell them that you would like to support policies that help people with mental health difficulties to get on with life and not face discrimination and stigma.
One in Four will be keeping tabs on the major parties in the next issue, telling you exactly what they think about mental health, giving you the information you need to help make up your mind. Like the National Lottery though, you have to be in it to win it.
One in Four Conference
With financial support from Open Up, One in Four is excited to be staging its first ever conference in February 2010. Called ‘Talking about mental health – getting it right’, it’s a half-day event bringing together people with mental health difficulties and media and communication professionals to talk about just how we should talk about mental health difficulty, the mistakes we make and how we can do things better.
It’s going to be a really exciting event with lots of space for debate. See page 11 for details and look out for a full report in the next issue of One in Four.
We’re twittering too
You might be aware of the massive impact that social website twitter.com is having on debates about the NHS and healthcare. If you aren’t, we explain more on page 12. If that whets your appetite, why not come and find me on Twitter? Search for ‘Markoneinfour’ and follow me for regular mental health updates, links to interesting things and behind-the-scenes chatter from the One in Four office.
Mark Brown
Editor
This article appears in the Winter 2009 edition of One in Four magazine
