Free mental health support being offered to charity workers in Scotland

Charity workers in Scotland are being offered free training to support their mental health and emotional wellbeing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The training sessions have been backed with £20,000 funding from Foundation Scotland and provided by mental health charity Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).

Workers are to be offered a range of virtual sessions, such as support for managers on their mental health as well as sessions on suicide prevention, maintaining wellbing and building resilience.

Foundation Scotland programmes manager Helen Wray said: “We have been continually impressed by the hundreds of passionate and dedicated third-sector heroes delivering incredible support through this dreadful time. Yet we recognise it is often these very people who feel like they can’t talk, or even have time to think about their own issues as they are so focussed on helping others.

She added: “We need to ensure these individuals feel equipped, trained and able to cope with the increasing pressures they face.”

More than 1,000 organisations have been contacted, with up to two free places on the courses available to each.

Wray says there has been “a huge take-up in places”.

SAMH assistant director of delivery and development Fiona Benton added: “As a charity, SAMH knows first-hand how hard third sector staff and volunteers have been working since the start of the pandemic: finding new ways to support people who need help, often while dealing with their own personal stress and worries.

Earlier this year Charity Times compiled its guide on emotional support groups available to charity leaders to support their mental health needs.