A “much needed” one-stop shop for mental health support services in Helensburgh and Lomond could soon be created, making it easier for people to access the help they need.

The digital directory would bring together a range of local private and public organisations, listing contact details and advice in one place online, and follows on from similar initiatives which have proved successful in other parts of Argyll and Bute.

Rhu resident Audrey Baird, co-​ordinator of the Helensburgh and Lomond Living Well Network, which currently has around 175 members, said a single source of information on mental health support would be a valuable tool for both service providers and users across the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

She told the Advertiser: “There’s a lot of support in Helensburgh and Lomond for anyone struggling with their mental health, but it can be difficult to know how to access the full range of national and local NHS, third sector and voluntary services that are available.

“When you’re struggling it’s even more difficult to know where to turn for help.

“NHS services are supplemented by a broad range of additional support in the community which works well for a lot of people, especially if they want to connect with others who’ve had similar experiences and find out how they’ve managed their wellbeing.

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“There’s clearly a need for it.

“A digital directory can be updated more easily and is more cost effective than a printed directory, which was tried about 10 years ago but quickly went out of date.

“There are already good examples of local digital mental health directories operating in Argyll and Bute and elsewhere, so the next step is to host a development meeting and agree how to take it forward.

“Funding and staff or volunteer time would need to be allocated to make it work.

“There’s a lot of support for the idea, so I hope we’ll have something up and running soon.”

Several individuals, charities and voluntary organisations that are part of the local wellbeing network have already backed the plans for a digital mental health directory in the area, including Helensburgh-based Visiting Friends, the Jean’s Bothy community mental health hub, and Males Tales.

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John Lewis, who founded the latter men’s mental health support group in 2019, and its partner group Females Tales, which met for the first time earlier this year, said: “I agree that this would be an excellent tool for our community, there are so many organisations and signposting routes out there.

“However they are hard enough to find if you have all your faculties about you, never mind if you are currently struggling with other issues.

“To have them in a one for all directory would be ideal.”

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One new mental health service now in operation in the Helensburgh and Lomond area is provided by ACUMEN, which has been funded by a Living Well grant from the Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership until the end of the year.

The free service provided by ACUMEN’s trained staff gives people an opportunity to create a tailored care plan for wellbeing and up to three free sessions with a qualified counsellor.

To find out more information about the service, or on the digital directory idea, contact Audrey on audreyabhwn@gmail.com.