I appeal to all politicians and opinion formers to promote and speak about mental health issues in a positive way. Thousands of lives are and will be affected.

Politicians are elected in the first instance because of what they and their party stand for – justice, equality, respect, fairness – all leading to solidarity and a better quality of life. The implicit understanding is that they are beacons reflecting healthy values.

Opinion formers are followed because readers believe they have something important to say that will make our society better.

Over the last few months we have been exposed to politicians and opinion formers using mental health as a weapon in their political (and I am using the word widely) conflicts. Unfortunately, the language used, amateur “diagnosis” made and arguments brought forward about people who experience a mental health problem or thought of having a mental health problem, falls short of expectations.

The use of mental health issues as a weapon is continuing to foster the stigma which already exists and it is belittling us as a nation.

People who have mental health problems and their families have nothing to be ashamed of and it is extremely offensive to them and also an affront to a civilised society.

People with mental health problems have the right to vote; they have multiple roles to live – they are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, colleagues, grandparents, friends, neighbours, policymakers, opinion formers and politicians. They contribute actively to society and without them there will be at least 100,000 people less to contribute to this small nation of ours.

Politicians and opinion formers are expected to inspire the fight against stigma and not perpetrate it. I appeal to them to practise zero tolerance to stigma associated with mental health issues and prioritise mental health by discussing the topic and issues related with it in an informed and mature manner.

As politicians and opinion formers they can ensure that stigma is drastically addressed and that political parties will give priority to mental health. They should remember that there is no health without mental health and without mental health there is no sound economy.