Discrimination and social justice

People with experience of mental distress regularly face stigma and discrimination, denying them the opportunity to live their lives to the full. People might be discriminated against by employers, landlords, service providers like shops, restaurants or insurance companies, public authorities like a local council or the NHS, or anyone in society.

I used to work in a shop, I was doing well there, but when I said I had bipolar disorder the manager made it clear he didn’t want me working there. He was always criticizing me, he was rude to me in front of other staff [...] In the end I had to resign.

Campaigning for better legal protection

Disability discrimination law and the Human Rights Act prohibit discrimination against disabled people, including people with mental health problems. Yet some people with mental distress remain unprotected. Mind campaigns to improve the law to ensure everyone with mental distress receives fair and equal treatment and can enjoy a life free from discrimination.

Mind is calling for:

• Robust implementation of the Equality Act, which replaces the Disability Discrimination Act from 1 October 2010, to increase the legal protection for disabled people and, specifically, restrict the use of pre-employment health questionnaires by employers.
• All political parties to publicly support the Human Rights Act and oppose any proposals to repeal it, as the Act can often be crucial in protecting the fundamental rights of people with mental distress.