Mental health stigma and ECT

Posted June 13th 2018

Despite significant advances in mental health research and improvements in our understanding of mental illnesses, stigma toward these conditions remains.

As a result, many people experiencing mental ill-health do not seek support or access healthcare in the same way they might for physical health issues. Such stigmatising attitudes are often based on inaccurate views of mental illness, psychiatry and mental health care and treatment.

silhouette of young man using a phone

When mental health care is represented in this way, it’s no wonder we might avoid or refuse treatment and feel like nothing can be done. If we understood our treatments better, maybe we’d be more willing, more hopeful.

Let’s talk about ECT

I’m a medical student at Cardiff University with a keen interest in tackling mental health stigma. I am also an avid filmmaker. I want to use resources like film to help tackle mental health stigma and help everyone affected by it.

I made a film two years ago called How are you?, which showed how mental health stigma can affect us and now I want to delve deeper and look into ECT.

ECT is an incredibly divisive subject. Many doctors and patients will swear by it and describe it as an incredibly effective treatment that has helped people where other forms of treatment were not working. Others, however, describe it as an outdated treatment with too many side effects.

young man using video camera

I would like to speak to people who have experienced ECT themselves or have experience of ECT indirectly (e.g. via a family member) to hear about your experiences. Regardless of whether your experience of ECT has been good or bad, I would love to hear from you.

As someone who suffers from mental illness myself (I suffer from depression, OCD and an eating disorder) I understand how difficult it can be to speak up, especially on camera. While I’d love to talk about your experiences on camera, I’d also be happy to record just your voice or to simply have a chat about your experiences of ECT.

I really think we can make a difference with this film and I would love to have you on board. If you are interested in helping or would like more information please contact info@ncmh.info