Whilst it is great that mental health is being openly discussed in the mainstream media, we at Talk for Health are disappointed that a very limited range of views and opinions about mental health were reflected in the programming.  The focus seemed to be on the psychiatric model of mental health: where mental health problems are thought to be caused by problems in the brain, should be treated by drugs and are life-long incurable conditions.

However, this is only one view. There are many professionals and people with lived experience of mental health problems with very different ideas, approaches and understandings and they are speaking out and asking that the other side(s) be heard.

We think that Richard Bentall (Professor of Clinical Psychology at Liverpool University) sums it all up really well in this open letter to Stephen Fry.

If, like us, you feel strongly that these other thoughts and ideas should receive as much airtime you can also sign this petition.