A PLEDGE to take action to end mental health discrimination has been taken by Croydon Council.
Sue Baker, the director of the national awareness campaign Time To Change, attended the pledge-signing on Wednesday last week, hosted by Hear Us, a local mental health charity funded by the council and Croydon Primary Care Trust.
The pledge commits the council to leading the way in the borough to tackle stigmas around mental illness and promote understanding.
Mental health problems affect one in four people and in Croydon as many as 84,000 may be directly affected at any one time.
Councillor Margaret Mead, cabinet member for adult services and health, said: "Mental illness can affect all of us at some point and discrimination can wreck people's lives.
"People with mental health problems often feel they have to hide it, for fear of how others might react.
"It doesn't have to be this way, which is why I am signing this pledge on behalf of the council, to show we are committed to talking about mental health to help promote understanding and tackle any stigmas."
