Rethink have won couple of important campaigning victories recently. The first has been succeeding in persuading government to ban employers from asking job candidates about their medical history before inviting them for interview. There are so many cases of capable people openly disclosing a mental illness, only to find they are passed over for interview time and time again. The second victory, announced just this week, has been persuading the leaders of the three main political parties to sign up to an agreement not to use mental health slurs in the run up to the general election . It's a pretty sad sign that this campaign was needed - though politicians do stoop pretty low in their heckles, even to the point of picking on physical disabilities (Gordon Brown and his eye, for instance). But good on Rethink for getting this issue on the agenda. Watch out Gordon, David and Nick - we'll be listening!
We are a volunteer run support group for anyone in Manchester who is affected by severe mental illness, whether as a carer or service user. We are affiliated to the national charity Rethink Mental Illness.