This page provides some tips on helping us achieve the aims of
the "Dismissed? campaign". If you want to know more, please
contact us.
Political campaigning
If you want to contact your local MP about the campaign, there
are several ways to do so:
- visit your local library for information and/or internet
access
- type your postcode into http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/
- use www.writetothem.com/ to email your MP / MSP /
councillor directly
- Ask for an appointment
Your elected representatives should reply to all communications
within two weeks.
MPs can help the "Dismissed?" campaign by:
- Supporting "Dismissed?" in Parliament, the press or at public
meetings
- Co-operating with your service's media work and photo
opportunities
- Calling for Government action
- Tabling Parliamentary Questions, motions, petitions, debates
and amending legislation
Writing to your MP - some tips
- Keep it short - one side of A4 is enough
- Are you writing to them about the "Dismissed?" campaign as a
general supporter, or have you had personal experience of the
issues in the campaign (e.g. told you were fit for work when you
were unwell, employer unsupportive of mental health problem)
- Let them know how many people in their constituency are
affected; this is not an isolated issue.
- Include your full name and address
- Make your request clear - what do you want them to do?
- Ask for a reply.
Meeting your MP - some tips
- Bring information on the campaign with you, as an reminder of
the key issues.
- Bring any other documentation to demonstrate your case
- Show local support
- Indicate the positives - media coverage, social change,
economic benefits of correct decisionmaking / job provision
- Be clear about what you want to happen next
After the meeting
- Send a letter summarising the agreed actions and thanking them
for support.
Demonstrate why this issue is important to you and others in
your constituency. MPs and other politicians have a clear interest
in being a good constituency politician.
Following up after the meeting is crucial - each politician will
have up to 20 meetings a day, so keeping their mind on your issue
is imperative.
If you want more advice on political campaigning, contact SAMH's
Political and Parliamentary Officer, Rachel
Stewart on 0141 568 7202 or rachel.stewart@samh.org.uk