Communities
Improving mental health and wellbeing requires a whole-community approach. Scotland is home to many types of communities – remote, rural, urban, young, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, elderly and those from different ethnic minorities to name just a few.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the National Programme's support for work with communities not only includes partnership working with Communities Scotland but also a wide variety of projects – perhaps the widest range of all of our priority areas.
Putting communities first
Many different aspects of community life (e.g. employment, education, transport, and the environment) can affect the wellbeing of communities. The National Programme works with departments across the Scottish Government to ensure that the need to improve the mental health and wellbeing of communities is considered whenever new work or policies are planned.
Community Wellbeing projects:
Suicide Prevention Work
Choose Life supports projects with communities all over Scotland.
Centre for Confidence and Wellbeing
Part-funded by the National Programme, the Centre works to build the self-confidence and wellbeing of Scotland's population. Contact the Centre.
National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health
The resource centre works to improve the health of our ethnic minority communities. More...
Building Community Wellbeing
The Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and Community Health Exchange are supporting projects that are seeking to improve wellbeing in four Scottish Communities.
Volunteering in Mental Health and Wellbeing Network
Volunteer Development Scotland supports a network of volunteer managers interested in increasing opportunities for people with mental health problems. Contact the Network.
Outside the Box
The charity is working with communities to increase opportunities for people with mental health problems and those with an interest in mental health issues.
Blairbuie Woodland Project
Re-foresting Scotland is working with patients and volunteers to re-create woodland around an Argyle and Bute psychiatric hospital. Contact Re-foresting Scotland.
Littlewing Art and Music Projects
Dundee-based mental health communications project Littlewing runs a music group, is setting up an internet radio station and an online gallery – all with people who have experience of mental health problems. Contact Littewing.
Raising Awareness in the Highlands
Highland User Group (HUG) is raising awareness of mental health issues in the Highlands. Contact HUG.
Community Wellbeing News and Events:
Community Wellbeing Research:
Building Community Wellbeing: An Exploration of Themes and Issues
This 2003 report was the result of wide-ranging consultation with people who work in and for Scotland's communities and with community members.
View online or download
- bcwm.pdf [510.63Kb]
Improving Community Wellbeing – The Challenge
2003 conference report
- improving_community_wellbeing_report.pdf [90.83Kb]
How do community services support wellbeing?
Anne Connor is conducting this research into the effectiveness of community services with a Small Research Project grant.
User perspectives of self-help and community services
Michael Henderson, a 2004 Small Research Project grant winner, is investigating what service users think of self-help and community-based services.
Community Wellbeing Contacts:
Search our contacts section for projects and services in your area.
Click here to find out how to get help now.
View or download the current copy of Well? magazine, join the mailing list, browse our archive.
Real life stories of living with, recovering from and caring for people with mental illness.
Living with Bipolar Disorder (manic depression) Jemma tells it how it is. Updated weekly.
Let us know what you think of Jemma's Diary, email us at wellscotland@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Keep in touch with friends and loved ones
Close relationships have a huge impact on how we feel on a daily basis. A phone call, a couple of emails or a few texts, can help us feel connected to those we love. Or why not meet up for a quick tea or coffee?
For people who are depressed or feeling low, regular social contact can make all the difference - but don't wait for them to get in touch with you.
Even just lifting the phone can be incredibly hard for someone in a low mood. However, the support that person will feel following that phone call, email or text, are well worth the effort.
More top tips ...
