Healthy success for staff on frontline
LEONA GREENAN
Frontline emergency staff in Lanarkshire were among those praised after a unique mental health project won a prestigious Scottish Health Award.
The county’s hospital emergency departments, Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, primary care and third sector staff, were all singled out for their dedication to the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme after it picked up the Care for Mental Health award.
DBI provides an “ask once – get help fast” early intervention for people in distress or emotional pain who do not need emergency medical treatment.
Frontline staff often meet people from the area who are emotionally overwhelmed as a result of issues such as bereavement, relationship, stress, low mood or financial worries.
Some of these staff are now trained to help ease a person’s immediate distress with compassion, empowered with the knowledge they can refer the person for community support, which the person will be contacted about within 24 hours.
National DBI programme manager Kevin O’Neill dedicated the award to the staff across all the agencies involved.
Kevin said: “In acknowledging this achievement, we are of course sensitive to the fact our recognition comes from helping those in distress.
“It is this sensitivity to those in distress that inspires us all to work together to improve the outcomes and experiences of these people when they need help the most.
“With almost 5000 people helped nationally so far – including almost 2500 in Lanarkshire – I know the biggest validation for our incredible front-line and third sector staff comes from seeing the difference they are making to people’s lives day in and day out.
“But I really hope all who have been part of the development and delivery of the DBI programme takes a great deal of satisfaction and pride from this recognition.
“I can’t stress highly enough, this award is for all of them and I’m sure it will inspire and motivate us all to continue to provide the best connected compassionate support possible.”
Data gathered so far shows, on average, the level of distress of those who have received DBI support has halved.
DBI is a Scottish Government funded pilot and the government’s principal medical officer, Dr John Mitchell, commented: “The success of DBI is a tribute to their belief and commitment and I’m absolutely delighted this has also been recognised by the team of award judges.”