Awareness Raising campaigns

Alzheimer Scotland's 2008 campaign highlights the need to overcome the stigma surrounding the condition. Fear of dementia and concern over the stigma that the illness carries can often make people unwilling to speak to their GP about worrying symptoms. The earlier a person gets a diagnosis of dementia, the sooner they can come to terms with the illness, start treatments which may (in some cases) slow its progression, make plans for the future and access services that can help.

With the right support and opportunities, life for a person immediately after diagnosis can change from shock, denial and depression; to acceptance, involvement and broadened horizons. It is vital to equip people with the knowledge and skills they need, as well as helping friends and family to accept, understand and adjust to the diagnosis.

Find out more about our 50% campaign.

We also have an ongoing campaign on risk reduction and dementia: Good for you, Good for your brain, as illustrated above.

The slogan provides a link between general health promotion messages and dementia. The idea of risk reduction is new – although we are used to health messages in relation to physical wellbeing, we are not used to them in relation to dementia.

Tackling awareness raising and dementia from the view of risk reduction is empowering - the campaign messages are optimistic – something can be done about risk. Our messages are also destigmatising as the risk of dementia can be addressed just like other illnesses.

For more information visit the Good for you Good for your Brain section of our website.

We are grateful for the support of the Scottish Executive’s National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being
for our awareness raising activity.