Events
See Me, our partners, volunteers and supporters, host a range of in-person and online events throughout the year with a focus on tackling mental health stigma. Check out what’s coming up.
We know that when people get together to share ideas, learning and experiences around mental health stigma and discrimination, great things can happen.
Below, we’ve got a list of upcoming public events and activities that you can get involved with to broaden your understanding of mental health stigma, share your experiences of tackling it, gain inspiration and think about the steps you can take to put an end to it.
The Anti-Stigma Sessions
New for 2025 is our online Anti-Stigma Sessions.
The mission to end stigma doesn’t lie solely with See Me – across Scotland, people are doing their bit to tackle stigma in their communities and organisations, through research, workshops and projects that are making a real impact.
This year, we’ll be showcasing some of the work that individuals, communities and partners are taking forward to reduce stigma and discrimination in Scotland through our monthly online Anti-Stigma Sessions.
The Anti-Stigma Sessions will share learning from projects and research across Scotland from See Me, volunteers, our partners and supporters.
We’ll be profiling leaders in the anti-stigma space, sharing innovation and critical thinking, encouraging people to act against stigma and featuring lived experience throughout.
You can expect to hear more about our intersectional approach, ways to tackle public stigma, using the arts to tackle stigma and much more, with insight from experts, researchers and people with lived experience of mental health problems and mental illness.
See below for upcoming sessions.
If you’re hosting an event or session that’s connected to anti-stigma work that you’d like to advertise on this page, send the details to info@seemescotland.org.
What's On
Shifting the Dial: Scotland's Conference on Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination
Wednesday 1 October, 9am - 4.30pm
The Studio, Glasgow
Next week, we’re hosting our first national conference since 2021, bringing together key figures in the mental health sphere and people with diverse lived experience to explore how we can work together to shift the dial on mental health stigma and discrimination.
And there’s still a chance to be a part of it.
Taking place on Wednesday 1 October at the Studio in Glasgow’s city centre, Shifting the Dial: Scotland’s Conference on Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination will bring together people with lived experience of mental health problems and illness, community members and leaders, employers, advocates and people who are involved in policy and practice improvement within services, with the shared ambition to end mental health stigma and discrimination through collective action.
Participants will also have the chance to hear from Scotland’s Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Tom Arthur MSP, who will be delivering a keynote speech in the morning session.
The full-day programme will provide opportunities for you to consider the impact of mental health stigma and the action you can take to tackle it, through thought-provoking guest speakers, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking.
Lunch will be provided.
Anti-Stigma Session: Good Anti-Stigma Practice Session.
Thursday 25 September, 11am - 12pm
Online, Zoom
We are hosting our third Anti-Stigma Session at the end of the month.
This session will introduce good anti-stigma practice as essential for reducing stark inequities in mental health services.
We have gathered and collated good anti-stigma and discrimination practice indicators from a wide evidence base - including intersectional communities, mental health practitioners, the Mental Welfare Commission as a regulator, intersectional academic research, and Scottish Government mental health frameworks and guidance.
In collating this evidence, we identified 8 good anti-stigma practice principles. These principles align with 4 intersectional stigma reduction intervention principles (Sievwright 2022).
By bringing these principles together we have produced robust guidance that addresses structural stigma and discrimination in mental health services as issues of access and quality of care (Livingston, 2020).
This supports us to understand a combination of measures that could ensure that wider communities of people obtain the mental health care they need, when they need it and receive clinical care that is safe, effective and respectful.
About the session
The first half of this session will be presentation-led focusing on sharing evidence and key findings. The second half will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the principles, evidence base, and implications of the guidance discussed with a focus on practice and system-level change.
This session is open to all but will be of particular use and interest to those looking to make changes within public, third and community sector organisations.
Event information and resources will be available prior to the event via email for ticket holders.
SMHAF Event - Sharpen Her: African Women's Network (SHAWN)
Thursday 2 October to Friday 31 October
Online or by appointment
Throughout October, Sharpen Her: African Women’s Network (SHAWN) will display a photography exhibition titled ‘Comfort’ in Tradeston in Glasgow, available to a few upon request.
This participatory photography project, facilitated by Open Aye, explored the experience of a group of women from the Network in supporting their mental health. This project was funded through See Me’s Anti-Stigma Arts Fund.
Please contact Hello@openaye.co.uk to arrange a visit to the exhibition in Tradeston.
SMHAF event - The Simon Community exhibition
Saturday 25 October, 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 26 October, 12pm - 5pm
Streetreads Library, 21-23 Slater's Step, Edinburgh EH8 8PB
The Simon Community are holding an exhibition at their Streetreads Library in Edinburgh.
This is a peer-led participatory creative project exploring the intersections of mental health and homelessness, shining a light on stories that are often overlooked.
This is a project that has been funded through See Me’s Anti-Stigma Arts Fund.
SMHAF event - Six Wee Wordies to Comfort and Disturb
Thursday 23 October, 7pm - 8.30pm
Online
See Me volunteer Bridget Dickson will be joined by project officer Maeve to facilitate an online session of her hugely popular Six Wee Wordies writing workshop.
‘Six Wee Wordies to Comfort and Disturb’ will be a gentle and supportive workshop with several writing prompts using the comfort and disturb theme.
Participants will be encouraged to engage at their own pace and however feels comfortable for them.
Please sign up here: https://SixWeeWordies.eventbrite.co.uk
SMHAF event - Creative Approaches Report Launch
Thursday 30 October, 10am - 11.30am
Online
See Me and Mental Health Foundation will launch a new report drawing together learning from many years of creative work supporting by See Me, with a particular focus on how creative approaches have been essential to See Me moving towards taking an intersectional approach to anti-stigma work.
Anyone with an interest in funding, supporting, or facilitating creative participatory projects is very welcome to attend the online launch of this report and hear from community partners taking forward incredible creative projects.
Keep an eye out for details on how to register 👀
SMHAF event - Spoken Word and Open Mic night
Thursday 6 November, 7pm - 9pm
Inn Deep Bar, Glasgow
Our spoken word and open mic night returns in November!
The sixth Speakin’ Oor Mind event, created by See Me and its volunteers, will be part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF).
We will be using the festival theme of ‘comfort and disturb’. The event provides a great opportunity for experienced performers and newcomers alike to share experiences and thoughts in a creative way.
Anyone is welcome to perform or just come along and watch.
Will you join us?
📅 Thursday 6 November
⌚ 7pm - 9pm
📍 Inn Deep, 445 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 8HH
If you have any questions, or would like to make us aware of any accessibility or mobility requirements, contact us at Maeve.Grindall@seemescotland.org.
Scotland Demands Better
Saturday 25 October, 11am
Assemble at Horse Wynd, outside the Scottish Parliament
A campaign is demanding action from politicians for better jobs, affordable living and better social security.
Scotland Demands Better, coordinated by the Poverty Alliance, is a call to action for change.
From the cost of living crisis to bettering public transport – individuals and organisations are taking a stand and demanding political action.
Stay up to date
Follow our Eventbrite page to keep up to date with events taking place across Scotland!
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