2010 is shaping up to be a significant year for mental health. It seems likely that the National Assembly for Wales will be granted the power to make mental health legislation and that, pretty swiftly after it's received, the Welsh Assembly Government will do so. A new National Service Framework (the document which sets out the standards mental health services should meet) is also expected. What difference any of this makes to people who are experiencing mental ill-health will obviously depend on both their content and their implementation.

One thing I am concerned we won't see in 2010, however, is a national anti-stigma campaign. I've made reference in this column before to the See Me campaign that's been running in Scotland since 2002. Fully funded by the Scottish Government, the campaign has combined cinema, TV and radio ads aimed at the general public with specific initiatives aimed at tackling stigma in the workplace and amongst young people, as well as support for local anti-stigma activities. Changing attitudes is never going to be a ‘quick win' (See Me is based on the premise it will take a generation) but already 85% of people experiencing mental ill-health in Scotland feel more able to be open about that.

England now also has a campaign, called Time to Change. They're funded by the Big Lottery and Comic Relief and again aim to use a combination of high-profile media work with local community projects to improve public attitudes and reduce discrimination. The nature of media consumption in Wales means that some of their media advertising is bound to be seen by people here; I remember picking up a magazine over the summer, for example, and seeing a full-page ad featuring Stephen Fry. If we were in England, however, we'd also be seeing the outdoor advertising, the roadshows in shopping centres and high streets, and the other events and community projects that they're running.

The point of devolution is that the different nations can do things differently. Just because England and Scotland are doing something, it doesn't necessarily mean we should too. In this case, however, we need to do what they're doing, or something very similar to it. Research published this year by the Equality and Human Rights Commission showed over a third of people in Wales wouldn't be happy if a relative was marrying someone who experienced mental ill-health and 40% thought someone who experiences depression is unsuitable to be a primary school teacher.

The new standards and the new legislation expected from the Welsh Assembly Government in the year ahead has the potential to improve mental health services, and I hope that they do. Improving services won't help someone get a job, however. Nor will it improve the reactions of friends and family to a person in mental distress. Until we tackle the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental ill-health, the one in four people who experience it will always be second-class citizens. Changing that will take a lot of time and, very probably, a lot of money. Not doing it...well, what does that say about us?

Ewan Hilton is the Executive Director of mental health charity Gofal Cymru. We'd love to hear from you - email reply@gofalcymru.org.uk.