Mental health project to be piloted in Lanarkshire

A NATIONAL mental health project that seeks to deliver an ‘ask once - get help fast’ service for people in distress is to be piloted in Lanarkshire.

Known as Distress Brief Intervention (DBI), staff across a wide range of agencies will be trained to help people in distress manage difficult emotions and problem situations at the earliest possible stage.

People will then be supported to overcome their immediate challenges and develop ways to look after their well-being, preventing future distress.

The Minister for Mental Health, Maureen Watt, announced that Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire (H&SCNL) and South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership (SLH&SCP) have been selected to host the national DBI team on behalf of the Government. The Lanarkshire partnerships will also join four other partnerships across Scotland as a test site for the programme.

General Manager for Mental Health and Learning Disability Services in Lanarkshire, Paula Macleod, said: “The aim of DBI is to listen, learn, understand and share how we can provide more coordinated, consistent and compassionate responses to people who experience distress across Lanarkshire and Scotland.

“We want to do this in a way that really makes a difference to people’s lives, their families and friends.”

Harry Stevenson, Chief Officer of SLH&SCP said: “This initiative will help ensure there is no wrong door for those in distress, whether they approach social work, health or partner organisations such as the police or ambulance service.

“The DBI will build on the well established spirit of joined up, coordinated working, placing the person at the centre of everything we do.”