Frank Bruno joins campaign over mental health problems

The boxer, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003, has joined other well-known figures including television presenter Trisha Goddard, comedian Ruby Wax and actor Patsy Palmer, in making the pledge for the next stage of the Time to Change campaign which begins today.

Speaking about the reaction to his diagnosis, Bruno said: "Some people don't want to know you anymore. They delete you, rub you out. One in four people will have some kind of mental health problem.

"It can happen to anyone; milkmen, lawyers, even boxers. That's why I pledge to support Time to Change – to help make this issue visible and something we can all fight together."

Led by the charities Mind and Rethink and backed by 16m from the Big Lottery Fund and 4m from Comic Relief, Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme yet to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.

This year the campaign is encouraging the whole of England to recognise that it is often the little things people say or do that can add to the prejudice surrounding mental health problems, and small changes in how they react will make a real difference to those with a mental illness.

Time to Change has launched a new online pledge at www.time-to-change.org.uk where people can make their own personal pledge and add their photo to the thousands of faces who have so far supported the campaign.

Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said: "Mental illness is one of our society's last and most powerful taboos. We hope that the celebrities pledging their support will lead the way in showing the British public that ending mental health prejudice is something we all have a role to play in. Taking small actions to change the way we respond to the one in four of us who will experience a mental health problem would make a huge difference."

Trisha Goddard has personal experience with mental illness including time as an in-patient in a psychiatric hospital and a sister with schizophrenia who took her own life.

She said: "When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was inundated with 'Get Well Soon' cards. When news leaked out that I was in a psychiatric hospital following a breakdown, not a peep. And certainly no cards. Both experiences were horrible. But with breast cancer, people ran towards me with open arms and hugged me. With depression, people ran away."

The month-long national Time to Change campaign also features the nationwide cinema release of a hard-hitting film trailer Schizo: The Movie on April 23.