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‘It’s Hard to Know What’s Trustworthy. It Could Change the Way You Vote’

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Adam is 41, from Chelsea, and has lived experience of mental health problems. He is also sits on the board of trustees of The Advocacy Project.

You can see an easy-read version of this post here.

I like art and design, so sometimes I go to galleries such as the new design museum in Kensington. I like writing music too, well, lyrics for music. It puts me in the therapeutic mood. I’m a trustee at The Advocacy Project and I work for Different Voices, which helps mental health patients make their voices heard. We meet at least once a month to discuss patient care and what happens when you’re taken into care or sectioned. We try to reach out to people so that they can help themselves. The Advocacy Project gives mental health patients a voice.

Adam is a trustee for the Advocacy Project. Photo: Jem Collins / RightsInfo

Everyone should be trying to get involved with voting but I know sometimes it’s more difficult for people with mental health problems to find information which they can trust to help them decide who to vote for. Sometimes information isn’t readily available and sometimes accessing the information is a barrier, especially if people are vulnerable. 

I research on the internet normally, but sometimes an MP or Councillor comes to my door, so then I’ll discuss the things that matter to me. There is a lot of information on social media, and you can usually find stuff by Googling, but it’s hard to know what’s trustworthy, and you can’t always find the right things. When it comes to an election, having access to all the information you need could change the way you vote. If a lot of people stand up and vote for the same thing, changes can happen.

The right to free and fair elections is Adam’s human right. It’s also yours. Make sure you exercise it on Thursday 8th June.

This article is part of our accessibility and voting project. Want to know about this project and how you can get involved?

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