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Mental health charities have urged new efforts to tackle stigmatisation of people with mental health problems, following the tabloid media’s treatment of former boxer Frank Bruno after he was sectioned, writes Sally Gillen.

'The Sun' reported the news of the former heavyweight champion’s detention under the Mental Health Act with the headline “Bonkers Bruno locked up”, but later changed it after widespread condemnation.

Bowing to pressure from the public, the decision was taken to change the headline to “Sad Bruno in mental home”.

Rethink chief executive Cliff Prior described the newspaper’s treatment of Bruno as “shameful”, but said the public’s response had been “heartwarming”. The charity is now calling for a government-funded national campaign to fight the discrimination faced by the 630,000 people with a severe mental health problem.

Meanwhile, Mind’s chief executive Richard Brook has written to The Sun’s editor Rebekah Wade urging a long-term improvement in the newspaper’s coverage of mental health issues.