Charity to hold event at the Gatehouse in Golspie today to mark relaunch of mental health service
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The mental health charity which runs the Gatehouse Resource Centre at Golspie is holding an event today to mark the relaunch of the service.
Change Mental Health, formerly known as Support in Mind Scotland, receives payment from NHS Scotland to provide a service out of the Gatehouse - a bungalow located close to the A9 in the grounds of the Lawson Memorial Hospital.
The Edinburgh-based charity has operated out of the Gatehouse for more than 20 years offering a “comfortable setting for people in East Sutherland who are affected by mental ill health to access support through group work”.
However Change Mental Health came under criticism earlier this year with claims that the Gatehouse had not reopened following the coronavirus pandemic yet the charity was still being paid to provide a service there.
Golspie resident Alan Bithell, the chairman of Spirit Advocacy - a group that represents users of mental health services - was critical of the way the Gatehouse had been run in recent years.
In response, the charity said it was introducing a new model of service with 2022 a “transitional year”.
NHS Highland said Change Mental Health would be reopening and would be running “wellbeing groups, activity groups and courses that provide support to people to maintain their mental health and wellbeing".
An open invitation has gone out to anyone interested to join in the reopening celebrations at the Gatehouse today from 10.30am-12.30pm.
A spokesperson said: “Tea, coffee and cake will be provided for everyone to learn more about the support we’re delivering to the local community.
“We are aiming to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing through group work and promoting community engagement, so come and find out more from the Change Mental Health team.”
