Time to take action on mental health issues, says Caithness councillor
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ACTION has to be taken now to help young people in Caithness with mental health issues. That is the view of local councillor, Nicola Sinclair, who hopes the first steps to achieving that aim can be taken at a special meeting of the Caithness Area Committee being held remotely today (Friday).
It will be attended by the chief executives of Highland Council and NHS Highland – Donna Manson and Pam Dudek respectively – as well as Police Scotland chief superintendent, Conrad Trickett. Also there will be representatives from a variety of organisations, including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, High Life Highland, Caithness Community Planning Partnership, Caithness Voluntary Group and others.
Mrs Sinclair, who chairs the area committee, said the meeting has been called "to reflect the scale of the emergency we have here in Caithness." There have been several suicides and drug-related deaths in the far north this year.
"It’s clear from recent tragedies and the overwhelming community response that we must take action now to deliver improved support for the emotional wellbeing of our community and enhanced services for people in crisis with mental health issues. We have a detailed report outlining five objectives for agreement, ranging from early intervention and prevention work to crisis support. Crucially, we have the funds and the collective will to make a start in January. Friday is the first step towards doing that. I hope as a community we will go into Christmas with renewed hope. The real work starts in 2021."
A report which will be before the meeting states: "In Caithness there have been several suicides and increasing drug-related deaths, with the problem becoming more acute in 2020 due to Covid-19. Police Scotland has confirmed that Caithness is an area of key concern within Highland with increasing violent crime, addiction, and mental health challenges. However, it is not just anti-social behaviour that is of concern there are a range of reasons and issues affecting many young people and their families."
These events, it states, are having a significant impact upon the mental health and wellbeing of young people, their families and carers and also staff across a number of organisations, volunteers and the public.
Caithness was chosen to lead a pilot project on mental health issues by Highland Council and two virtual workshops involving a number of organisations were held last month. A plan of action is expected to be formulated at today's meeting.
Mrs Sinclair said the committee is keen to adopt the Icelandic model which takes a whole community approach to tackling widespread drug and alcohol issues.
"It’s so important that we take meaningful steps now. I hope we will work together to provide a brighter future for the next generation growing up in Caithness," she said.
The Highlands received more than £700,000 from the Scottish Government – £534,000 for the development and introduction of new mental health services for children and young people following the coronavirus pandemic. A further £178,000 has been made available to build on support which is already in place within communities.
As previously reported, Mrs Sinclair hopes the pilot project can be "a game changer."
"It’s not about focusing on one issue, be that drugs or mental health or education, but about looking at what our young people experience growing up here, the issues they face and what they need us to provide," she said.
