A new facility to help unpaid carers, families and young people with mental health issues was open in Helensburgh today by Minister for Mental Health Maureen Watt.
Understood to be the first co-location of its kind in Scotland, it is based at Lomond House and brings together Helensburgh and Lomond SCIO (the local carers centre), Children 1st and Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, which is provided by Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).
Opening the centre on Lomond Street, Maureen Watt said: “It is good to see Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership and the third sector working collaboratively to improve mental health and to bring services together.
“Mental health is one of the Scottish Government’s main priorities, and later this year we will be publishing our new ten-year strategy to transform mental health.”
Christina West, chief officer of Argyll and Bute HSCP, said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their innovative thinking and forward-looking approach in bringing together all of these services under the one roof.
“This really is a great example of integrated working between the statutory and third sector and I am sure that it will deliver real benefits for the people of Helensburgh and Lomond.”
Eileen McCrory, manager at Helensburgh and Lomond SCIO, said: “There is a great deal of synergy between the services involved in this project, particularly in relation to carers who are caring for children or adolescents with mental health issues.
“We were also delighted to secure the pro-bono support of the designer John Amabile, who assisted with the design of areas to be used by young carers.
“It is an excellent facility and we believe that co-location will provide opportunities for closer working and the introduction and improvement of services for local people.”
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