Giving people a stronger voice Kibble praised by mental health supremo
Scotland’s minister for mental health heard about Kibble’s pioneering strategies during a recent visit to the charity’s Paisley campus.
Maureen Watt MSP spent a morning speaking to staff and residents at the specialist care provider’s site in Paisley.
The visit was in support of the Year of Young People which has health and wellbeing as one of the Scottish Government’s themes.
Kibble has committed to a range of activity over the course of the year including working with the NHS and local authorities to support early identification of mental health issues as well as working with Who Cares? Scotland to make sure all young people know their rights.
Ms Watt said: “The Year of Young People 2018 is about giving young people a stronger voice.
“We have been told very clearly that they want greater attention given to mental health and wellbeing, and I am delighted to see how staff at Kibble are also adopting this kind of approach.
“More and more people are recognising the importance of caring for our mental health as we would our physical health, and we want everyone to have access to the support they need.
“Focusing on prevention and early intervention is a key part of that, and I look forward to hearing how Kibble’s work will help people to manage their own mental wellbeing.”
During the visit, Ms Watt learned about Kibble’s initiatives and also visited the Safe Centre where young people, some with mental health issues, receive individual treatment plans which include new and innovative interventions.
Kibble works with children and families from the age of five and offers residential and day placement services.
Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Kibble, said: “It was an honour to welcome the minister to our site and shine a light on the work that is done day to day in support of mental health.
“We are working with numerous partners in aid of the wellbeing of under 26- year olds, from early intervention at a young age and throughout the years into adulthood.
“Our Safe Centre is an instrumental part of giving young people the care in which they need, with the support from the minister a tremendous helpful in continuing to develop the services we offer.
“During the Year of the Young People it is vital that we are taking the steps to ensure that each and every child has readily available help, feels comfortable enough to ask for support and has a platform to speak and be heard.”