Breathing Space in multi storeys
Initiative to deal with mental health issues in tower blocks
Five thousand council house residents in Edinburgh’s multi storey blocks will be issued with key fobs as part of a mental health awareness drive.
The fobs will show contact details for Breathing Space - the free and confidential phone line service for anyone who is feeling low or depressed.
The initiative comes as Mental Health Awareness Week is launched across Scotland today (October 5).
The issue of mental health in multi storey housing was first raised by Betty Stevenson, Convener of the Edinburgh Tenants Federation, who sits on the Council’s Multi Storey Working Group.
She said: “I raised concerns at a meeting of the working group and as a result the Mental Health AwarenessGroup (MHAG) was formed with the purpose of supporting residents in multi storey blocks by promoting mental well being.
“We have to make sure people who have mental health problems get the support they are entitled to and that all the agencies involved work together to achieve this aim.
“One of the initiatives to come from this group is the key fobs which we are sure will help those in need.”
Councillor Norman Work, Convener of the Multi Storey Working Group and Vice-Convener for Social Care and Housing in Edinburgh, said: “People who suffer from mental ill-health are often vulnerable and can easily become isolated which could further affect them.
“These keys fobs now give them a readily available service to access if they are feeling low. It is important residents are aware of the help that is out there for them.
“We, as a Council, also have a duty of care for our staff and the training they are receiving helps them when they are faced with residents’ concerns.”
Tony McLaren, Breathing Space national co-ordinator, said: “The Breathing Space key fobs are a simple, practical and effective way to promote our service directly to vulnerable tenants. It literally puts our phone number in the palms of their hands.
“Living in a multi-storey block can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness – and many tenants may be struggling with a whole range of issues from mental ill-health to money worries to relationship breakdowns.
“Our phone line is free, confidential and anonymous and our trained advisers are there to listen, offer advice or put you in touch with local organisations that may be able to help. Mental health support for Edinburgh council tenants is now available at the turn of a key and we’d urge anyone experiencing difficulty in their life to contact us.”
In addition the MHAG has been responsible for:
- Monthly meetings are in the process of being set up between Council staff, NHS Lothian and Police
- Crisis information and contact numbers are available to tenants and front line staff
- A list of vulnerable tenants has been rolled out city wide for concierges
- Training being developed for front line staff on drugs, alcohol and mental health awareness.
Other partners at the MHAG meetings include Council staff from Community Safety, Health and Social Care, NHS Lothian, and Lothian and Borders Police.
Representatives from Choose Life, a Scottish Government strategy to reduce suicides in Scotland by 20% by 2013, also sit on MHAG.
As a result their work is now more familiar to Council staff and their inclusion has strengthened opportunities for partnership working. This has been done through building skills, training people up, encouraging tenants to seek help, improving knowledge and awareness of suicide prevention and working together to improve services for Council tenants with mental health concerns.