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| See Me (charity) | |
|---|---|
| Name | See Me |
| Type | Charity |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Location | Scotland |
| Focus | Mental health stigma reduction |
See Me (charity)
See Me (charity) is a Scottish anti-stigma charity focused on reducing mental health discrimination across Scotland. Established with support from Scottish institutions, it works with public bodies, cultural organisations, and community groups to change attitudes toward mental health. The organisation engages with national policy, media, and education sectors through targeted campaigns and partnerships to influence practice in health and social care.
See Me (charity) was launched in 2002 following initiatives endorsed by the Scottish Executive, with early promotion involving Scottish Parliament, NHS Scotland, Minister for Health and Community Care figures, and collaborations with the Scottish Government and Angela Constance. Its development mirrored contemporaneous anti-stigma movements such as Time to Change (campaign), Mind (charity), and activities by World Health Organization and UNICEF influencing policy framing. Over time the charity aligned with major events and actors including Glasgow, Edinburgh Festival, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and national surveys by Office for National Statistics to shape public discourse. Strategic shifts were informed by reports from The Scottish Mental Health Commission, comparative studies from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and evaluations by independent reviewers linked to Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Wellcome Trust.
The charity's mission is to eliminate mental health discrimination and to improve outcomes for people affected by mental ill-health through awareness, training, and advocacy. Objectives include influencing policy at bodies such as Scottish Parliament, supporting workforce change across NHS Scotland trusts, promoting inclusive practice in organisations like HM Prison Service and Police Scotland, and amplifying lived experience voices alongside campaigns from Samaritans, Royal College of Nursing, and Scottish Refugee Council. Strategic goals reference international norms set by World Health Organization and align with human rights frameworks discussed by Equality and Human Rights Commission and United Nations Human Rights Council.
Programs include anti-stigma education for employers, schools, and health professionals with training models used by University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, and professional bodies such as General Medical Council and Royal College of General Practitioners. Service offerings involve consultancy on workplace wellbeing for organisations like Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, provision of digital resources drawing on research from King's College London and University College London, and peer-led initiatives informed by networks including Mental Health Foundation and Rethink Mental Illness. The charity runs targeted interventions for marginalised populations engaging stakeholders such as YouthLink Scotland, Age Scotland, and housing partners like Shelter (charity).
Public campaigns have used mass media strategies similar to those by Time to Change (campaign), leveraging partnerships with broadcasters such as BBC Scotland and festival platforms like Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Glasgow International to reach audiences. High-profile advocacy involved collaborations with artists, sports figures linked to Scottish FA, and cultural institutions like National Galleries of Scotland to normalise conversations about mental health. Campaign evaluations referenced methodologies from Nesta, report dissemination via think tanks such as IPPR Scotland and public opinion tracked by organisations including YouGov and Scottish Social Attitudes Survey.
Funding and partnerships have included statutory funders such as Scottish Government, commissioning from NHS Scotland boards, trust support from foundations like Big Lottery Fund (now National Lottery Community Fund), and grants from Comic Relief and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Collaborative initiatives involved third-sector partners like SAMH and Citizens Advice Scotland, education partnerships with universities including Robert Gordon University and corporate alliances with employers drawn from Scottish Chambers of Commerce. Funding diversification drew on philanthropic models endorsed by Nesta and accountability frameworks from Charity Commission for England and Wales and OSCR.
The charity is overseen by a board of trustees and executive leadership accountable to regulatory bodies such as Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and engages advisory input from academic partners including University of Stirling and Abertay University. Governance practices reflect standards promoted by Institute of Fundraising, board development models from Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, and public-sector reporting comparable to NHS Scotland frameworks. Operational teams liaise with local authorities including Glasgow City Council and Edinburgh City Council to deliver community-level activity.
Impact assessments reference longitudinal attitudinal change measured by surveys similar to Scottish Social Attitudes Survey and commissioning evaluations from research bodies such as University of Glasgow and Analytica. Reported outcomes include reductions in reported stigma in target populations, evidence for policy influence in documents from Scottish Parliament, and case studies of workplace culture change in organisations like BT Group and Royal Bank of Scotland. Independent reviews and academic publications in partnership with institutions such as University of Oxford and University of Manchester contribute to ongoing program refinement and evidence-based strategy.
Category:Mental health charities based in Scotland