Inverness councillor Emma Roddick delighted with mental health campaign success
A CAMPAIGN led by an Inverness councillor to improve help for people suffering mental ill health has been successful.
People who are seeking urgent assistance can now choose option three in the main menu of the out-of-hours NHS 24 111 helpline to talk to someone directly about mental health worries.
Councillor Emma Roddick launched a petition calling for the dedicated option to be made available in 2017, collecting 25,000 signatures.
She was elected as a councillor for Inverness Central last year and is delighted the change has now been implemented.
"It is fantastic news that mental health callers now have a dedicated option on the NHS 24 menu, and I am delighted this long-fought campaign has been a success," she said.
"This small change provides validation and reassurance to vulnerable callers that they are in the right place and that they will be taken as seriously as those phoning about gastric, dental or other physical health issues. It also goes a long way to breaking down stigma: sending a message to all callers that mental health crises often require urgent attention, and that it is OK to seek help."
