Our Mission

Our Aims

Mind Your Head has been established to promote mental health positively throughout Shetland. The work of Mind Your Head is underpinned by a number of key aims that include:

• To raise mental health awareness in Shetland;
• To reduce the stigma of mental ill-health;
• To promote positive mental health and well-being;
• To promote counselling and other forms of mental health support services;
• To promote mental ill-health training specifically in relation to suicide prevention;
• To work in partnership with existing organisations to further the aims of the charity;
• To identify gaps in current service and training provision.

Our Objectives

In order to achieve these aims, Mind Your Head will seek to pursue the following objectives over the next three years:

• To hold fund raising events on a regular basis. These events will also serve to promote mental health awareness and encourage involvement from individuals who may not normally have interest in / or have a fear of discussing mental health issues;
• To assist in the funding of appropriate counselling where gaps may exist;
• To assist in the funding of appropriate mental health / suicide training where gaps may exist;
• To undertake training/workshops in Schools on mental health issues (in partnership with other appropriate agencies)

Service Activity

The service activity delivered by Mind Your Head will be focussed around a number of priority areas. It is anticipated that the work of the organisation will be expanded over the next three years in response to local needs. This will be supported following the appointment of Jenny Teale and Jacqui Clark to the post of Mind Your Head Co-ordinator, on a job-share basis.  Jenny and Jacqui took up post on 1 November 2010 and currently work Mondays 9am-2pm and Thursdays 9am-5pm. 

An outline of the priority areas is as follows:

Priority One – Awareness Raising Programme

This will include the delivery of a range of activity that focuses on raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. This will include the provision of information; promotional work to promote positive mental health and increase awareness of the support available for people with a mental health issue.

Over the next three years, MYH will undertake a range of work to raise awareness and seek to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. This will include:

Annual Round Spiggie Fun Run and Walk

• The MYH Round Spiggie Fun Run and Walk has grown into a major annual event in Shetland. The primary aim of the event is to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health issues across the local community. The event now attracts over 500 participants, and is an extremely successful and effective promotional activity.
• The secondary aim of the event is to raise funds that are used to invest in the work of MYH. The event raised around £5,000 in 2009, and this will be used to support the activities and initiatives established by MYH.
• Over the next three years, work will be undertaken to continue to develop the Fun Run and Walk and use the event to promote awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues across Shetland, and raise further income for investment in mental health services.

Information Programme

• A key aspect of activity will include the provision of information on mental health issues; sources of support; and signposting. This will be delivered through a range of activity including the development of MYH web site; information leaflets; publications; etc.
• As part of the information programme, telephone contact will be available that will signpost people to local services and self help activity that is available within the area.

Promotional Programme

• A range of promotional activity will be undertaken to raise awareness and reduce the sigma surrounding mental health issues. This will be delivered through work with schools including the provision of the young person’s mental well-being and information card. It is proposed that this card will be distributed to all children in Primary 7 to Secondary 3 classes throughout Shetland, and provide information on positive mental health and how to access support.
• The promotional work will also include talks and presentations to local organisations and forums; press releases/articles; promotional events; etc. The promotional programme will also link with national and local initiatives such as the See Me Photo Competition, etc.

Priority 2 – Self Help Support and Suicide Prevention Training Programme

This programme includes the appointment of theSelf Help Facilitator in partnership with NHS Shetland and NHS Education Scotland (NES). This will include the provision of self help training for other professionals; setting up a self help library; and offering guided self-help materials to individuals. Activity will also be undertaken to deliver suicide prevention training.

MYH will undertake a range of work in relation to suicide prevention and training. Over the next three years this will include:

Self Help Development

• MYH has been working over the last few years with NHS Shetland and NHS Education Scotland to secure funding to employ a Self Help Facilitator. Funding is now in place for this post that will be located as part of NHS Shetland, and will promote a self help approach to people with mild to moderate mental health issues. The post holder, who was appointed in December 2009, will work alongside other professionals and agencies to develop self help activity. This will include providing training and information to other professionals; establishing a library of easily accessible self help materials; and offering guided self help to individuals.
• The post has been developed in response to the gap in current service provision, and the recognition that waiting lists exist for counselling sessions offered through GP surgeries. The new service will be of benefit to people experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues, and the benefits of self help that have been demonstrated through other initiatives undertaken elsewhere.
• The post has been initially funded for a two year period by MYH and NES and will be based in Lerwick Health Centre.

Suicide Prevention and Training

• MYH currently works in partnership with NHS Shetland to deliver nationally recognised Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). The training involves the provision of a two day course for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable, confident, and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
• It is proposed that over the next three years, MYH will expand the range of training being provided and will develop the capacity of the organisation to deliver additional training and other dedicated programmes.

Priority 3 – Policy and Service Development Programme

This will include a range of work to influence future policy and service developments in Shetland in relation to mental health. This will include representation on the Shetland Mental Health Partnership and joint working with a range of partnership agencies.

A key feature of the work of MYH is the joint working and partnership arrangements that have been established with the aim of influencing local policy and informing the development of local services for people with a mental health issue. Over the next three years, this work will continue and will include:

Policy and Service Development

• MYH is represented on Shetland Mental Health Partnership and is working to influence and inform local policy and service development. This involves working with a range of partner agencies and developing policy development around mental health services, and using the knowledge and experience of local people to inform service development.
• Over the next three years, MYH will continue this area of work, and will also undertake activity in the local community to obtain feedback and views on current service provision; identify issues in relation to current practice; identify gaps in service provision and future areas of development. This information and consultation will be used to feed into the work of Shetland Mental Health Partnership.

Partnership and Joint Working

• MYH also works in partnership with a wide range of local agencies including NHS Shetland; Shetland Islands Council; Shetland Recreational Trust; and other community and voluntary organisations. The aim of this work is to ensure that there is no overlap or duplication in service provision, and that efforts are made to enhance and integrate local provision.
• Over the next three years MYH will continue to develop its partnership and joint working arrangements. This will include the development of joint working agreements; information sharing arrangements; clear referral process and protocols; and joint training activity.

Targets and Outcomes

Mind Your Head has established a range of targets which it will strive to achieve over the next three years. Indicators are based on the key service priorities as set out above. In setting the targets, consideration has been given to both the internal capacity of the organisation in terms of staffing; the review of local needs within the area; along the overall scope for continued development within the organisation over the next three years.