Mental health message on drinks mats in link-up between Highland charity Mikeysline and Stoddart Crane Hire
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High demand for coasters carrying messages designed to spark conversations about mental health across the Highlands has prompted a re-run of the venture.
It follows a link-up between mental health charity Mikeysline and Stoddart Crane Hire, of Muir of Ord, which has agreed to sponsor 5000 drinks mats to be distributed across the Highlands and Moray – and to particularly raise awareness in the construction industry.
The mats carry messages such as "Is there a mate missing around the table again?" or "Have you checked they are really ok?"
After 20,000 were snapped up earlier this year, Mikeysline realised it would need to find a corporate sponsor to meet requests for more.
Family-run Stoddart Crane Hire, which lost a colleague to suicide earlier this year, agreed to step in.
Director Kerri MacDonald said it had brought home the issues around mental health to the entire workforce.
"We are a local family business and we are always keen to support local charities," she said.
"The whole workforce was keen to support Mikeysline.
"You don't realise until you lose someone just how much work Mikeysline does."
The coasters, which will be circulated in cafes, bars, restaurants and clubs but the aim is also to target the construction industry by having them in tea huts and canteens.
Ms MacDonald said it was important to highlight the message within the industry which had a 90 per cent male workforce.
Emily Stokes, the chief executive of Mikeysline, said the charity was delighted to have the backing of Stoddart Crane Hire.
She said a similar venture distributing drinks mats a few years ago had been repeated earlier this year.
"They were really well received – they were flying out," she said.
"It fits in very much with out campaign that everyone can make a difference.
"All of us can help to support other people with their mental health."
Mikeysline was founded in late 2015 after a tragic number of suicides in the Highlands.
It offers text-based support 07786 20 77 55 and can be contacted via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Webchat and Twitter.
It also offers one-to-one appointments at its mental health and crisis support centres including The Hive in Academy Street, Inverness.
In 2021, the charity started an additional young service to support young people.
