I'd like to endorse the comments made about the stigma of mental illness by Sheila Hollins, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. (June 20) As she says, there is "no health without mental health"- yet stigma discourages people from seeking help and impairs their chances of recovery.

Scotland has been running an award-winning anti-stigma campaign called "see me" since 2002 (www.seemescotland.org.uk). The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland was one of the five founding members.

Misplaced fear of violence related to mental illness is one of the most pernicious forms of stigma. This fear is rising in England, but executive surveys tracking attitudes in Scotland showed that the proportion of people believing that "people with mental health problems are often dangerous" fell by 50% in the first two years of the Scottish campaign.

"See me" is a success story, changing attitudes and improving the chances of recovery for people living with mental health problems in Scotland. College members like me will do our best to remind colleagues in London not to forget it.
Dr Michael Smith, Consultant Psychiatrist & Service Clinical Lead, University of Glasgow.

 It was with relief and delight I read the headline "Counselling should be as easy as a trip to McDonald's" (June 19). I agree wholeheartedly with Professor John McLeod about the need for easier access to counselling and hope the article does something to ease our reticence in talking about our mental health.

I am a recently qualified counsellor and worked on placement within the NHS for 18 months. Unresolved issues surrounding bereavement, illness and disability, bullying and redundancy were some of the problems people I met were struggling to cope with. These life events are ones which we all might have to face. The demise of the extended family and the rise of the cash-rich time-poor society has meant that, for many of us, there is little opportunity or time to attend to our feelings. This can be risky and the effects serious, for the individual, friends and family, and society: suicide, long-term sick leave from stress, high numbers on anti-depressants and many who self-medicate with alcohol or drugs or who self-harm.

A huge public campaign to improve our physical health has had a massive effect on how we view healthy living. We need to approach our mental health with a similarly strong, commonsense campaign entailing much easier access to counselling. To relate, communicate and really listen without passing judgment takes time, energy and skill.

We need to recruit professionally-trained counsellors and pay them (most find work in the voluntary sector whose referrals come from the NHS) as well as provide extra training for health professionals.

Counselling is only one of the tools we can use for our mental health, but if access was wider and made easier, more people would be heard, fewer would feel isolated and, potentially, the stigma of needing someone to listen might reduce.

Going to a counsellor might indeed be as common as going to McDonald's - just a healthier option!
Jacqueline McCartney, Newbie Mill Cottage, Violetbank, Annan.