The Mental Health and Wellbeing LOIP subgroup have been working in partnership to take a more targeted approach to promoting and delivering the Understanding Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination workshop. 

This is an interactive workshop raising awareness around stigma and discrimination. The workshop aims to give people a better understanding of what mental health stigma and discrimination is, how it affects people’s recovery from mental illness and why it is an important issue to tackle. 

Offering this training as open access online dates was no longer leading to optimum uptake of general training dates. This is why in 2025 the subgroup has trialled a more targeted and bespoke approach using local partnerships.  

The workshop has since been delivered to staff, students and volunteers from a wide range of partner organisations including-  

• Community Action Team at Scottish Fire and Rescue Service  

• New College Lanarkshire ‘Ready Set Apprentice’ campaign  

• Local mental health staff and volunteers during Suicide Prevention Week  

Following this more targeted approach, there has been an increase in uptake of workshop. In Quarter 2 alone (July-September 2025), 80 people participated in workshops delivered over 4 sessions.  

Evaluations from the workshops show an increase in people’s knowledge of strategies to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as well as their confidence in tackling this. 

Other organisations have since requested workshops for their staff and volunteers which will be delivered in the coming months.