The stigma of mental illness and the discrimination that people with experience of mental illness face has been part of human societies for centuries.

However around the world, it has become increasingly apparent in recent years that the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness is one of the major barriers to a person's recovery.

In 1997, the Ministry of Health initiated the Like Minds project to reduce the stigma of mental illness and the discrimination experienced by people with mental illness, with funding for both nationwide and community based programmes.