Launch of mental health support service for Islands

A new support service has been launched to help people with mental health issues in the Uists and Benbecula.

Run by care charity Tagsa Uibhist (TU), the Mental Health and Wellbeing Outreach Project will give one-to-one confidential support to suffering individuals and their families and carers.

It will also provide information on mental health issues and community activities, training courses, befriending and other useful services.

TU set up the project to fill a gap in the market left after funding was withdrawn from work being done on the islands by the mental health and wellbeing charity, Penumbra.

Sheila MacDonald is TU’s outreach worker for the project, bringing to it extensive experience in working with mental health charities elsewhere in the country.

Mrs MacDonald said: “We recognise that people with mental health issues here in the Uists are quite isolated. There is still a stigma associated with mental health issues, although one in four people in the UK can expect to suffer from such problems at some point in their lives.

“We have funding in place now from various agencies for a support service for 18 months.

“The service is not only aimed at people with mental health issues, but those suffering from anxiety, stress, depression and general emotional ups and downs.

“We are working closely with GPs, community psychiatric nurses and social work to complement what they do. They are making referrals to us, but also people can refer themselves, as can their families.”

Mrs MacDonald added: “We already have seven clients on our books, and expect numbers to grow as word of mouth spreads.”

The project is part of TU’s trading arm, set up to generate income to support the charity’s work in community transport and home care.

The trading company has also recently rolled out a domestic cleaning service, available to all in the community. A team of four cleaners are on the books, ready to undertake regular cleaning duties or one-offs, like spring cleans, after-party, after-builder or end of tenancy clean-ups.

TU leader Cathy MacKinnon said she hoped the service would take off in the same way as TU’s Handyman Service, launched earlier this year and proving an enormous success.

Sheila MacDonald can be reached on 01870 602111, mobile 07825 942 766 or [email protected]