Inverness woman ensuring everyone has access to mental health services in the Highlands
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An Inverness resident is aiming to improve mental health support across the Highlands, by focusing on community and connection.
Laura Johnston-Scott is launching the Highland Well-Ness Collective at the start of November, which will provide accessible counselling services and collaborative therapeutic events throughout the region.
Speaking about the collective, 35-year-old Laura said: "We’re bringing a new dynamic to mental health services by offering simple pathways to often inaccessible services, whilst also encouraging and supporting a range of therapeutic activities and events.
"We are developing a space for connection, community and collaboration, with our community projects, counselling services, wellbeing events and education and consultation services.
"Our goal is to focus on mental health awareness in the Highlands. We want to close the gap and ensure everyone has access to professional mental health services, reducing waiting times and fighting the lack of availability."
With a background in dance, Laura is using her skills to provide affordable – and paid for – counselling sessions to people who need it. By hosting paid for dance lessons, Laura can then fund the counselling sessions for people.
Italian-born Laura, said: "Our pay-it-forward scheme takes inspiration from an Italian tradition called suspended coffee, or caffe sospeso, that dates to at least the turn of the 20th century in which, when customers buy coffee, they also pay in advance for a cup to be given to somebody else; usually someone who otherwise couldn't afford it.
"Likewise, our initiative combines the same principles of generosity, empathy, and community involvement, to create a sustainable system of mental health support.
"The scheme is funded by the fees raised through our regular dance classes alongside kind donations of individuals who are willing and able to contribute towards supporting someone else’s journey into receiving counselling."
Being able to provide access to mental health services and counselling is a personal passion for Laura, who explained that therapy sessions saved her life.
"I had an eating disorder for eight years, and I received counselling when I left university," she said.
"I found it cathartic; in fact it saved my life.
"I then received funding to do a dance piece on mental health in schools. I then went on to do a three year course in counselling so that I could help others."
Laura will start to take on clients at the start of November, where she can hold face-to-face sessions at her home in Telford Street.
She concluded: "We offer free sessions but we also charge full rate and have reduced fees too. Please just approach us and ask and we can have a conversation about what we can do for you and we will support you as best we can."
