BRENTWOOD, Essex, 06 February, 2019 – Ford is adding ten liveried trailers to its UK transport operations to mark this year’s Time to Talk Day. The specially-designed trailers - sharing the message “Don’t let mental health be the elephant in the room” - travel thousands of miles a year, and will act as “mobile billboards” to raise awareness of the Time to Change campaign to end mental health discrimination.
Around one in four people in the UK experiences mental health problems with young men, in particular being identified as a vulnerable demographic. Only a third of men (34 per cent) would talk openly about their feelings, while just under one third (31 per cent) said that they would be embarrassed about seeking help for a mental health problem.1
Last year Ford partnered with *Time to Change, producing a national awareness film promoting the front seat of a vehicle as a safe space to talk after research, conducted by Ford, found that over two-thirds (67 per cent) of people said they were more comfortable talking about issues when in a vehicle.
“One in four of us go through mental health issues at some point in our lives, so it really affects everyone, be it through personal experience or through people we know,” said Ford of Britain managing director, Andy Barratt. “As the market-leading car and van brand in the UK, Ford is an important part of society and we want to use that relationship to reach as many people as possible and encourage them to talk about mental health.”
“We’re delighted that Ford continues to be committed to improving attitudes towards mental health,” said Director of Time to Change, Jo Loughran. “We’ve come a long way in recent years but still, too many people with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed. Time to Talk Day is an opportunity to break down barriers and have real and meaningful conversations about mental health – however you do it. As Ford’s public awareness film highlights, talking about mental health doesn't have to be the elephant in the room.”
For more information, visit www.ford.co.uk and www.time-to-change.org.uk
Time to Change is an established mental health campaign run by the mental health charities’, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, with the aim to reduce the stigma surrounding discussions on mental health
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 199,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 67,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and eight unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
