Address Law At Work, 5 Wells Street, Inverness IV3 5JT, Scotland, UK
Telephone: 01463 236 507
Website: http://www.birchwoodhighland.org.uk
It might not be the first charity you think of when considering helping or supporting a local cause, but Birchwood Highland is one of our longest established home-grown humanitarian organisations.
For the past three years the mental ill health support organisation has been under the direction of chief executive Emily Stokes-Reid and in that time has been changing direction in the way it promotes itself to the people of the Highlands.
“Mental health is a great area to be involved in,” she said. “You can make such a difference to people’s lives by working with us but also just by being a friend to one of your friends or family who has mental health issues, for example.”
And that is one in four of us –the same percentage of people who are affected by cancer for example. Not only individuals but every company has to consider mental health in its workplace. It is an illness that can strike anyone at any time and includes stress, anxiety, depression, temporary break-down, as well as more significant mental health issues, and can be triggered by what are now common everyday events such as the break-up of a relationship, money worries, physical illness and even isolation.
Increasingly people at a younger age are developing mental health issues.
“We support people 16-years-old and upwards with all our services and that puts ever growing pressure on us financially ,” Ms Stokes-Reid added. “Fundraising is away for us to fund the quality of life things we can support people with that we are not funded to do, but we are always competing with many other excellent causes and we understand that mental health is not the most stylish or attractive area to attract public backing.
“However ,generally ,as a company we are trying to raise awareness and hopefully we will find more support from the people and businesses of the Highlands for that effort.
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