Mental health survey shows highs and lows
Hundreds of people have responded to a survey identifying the highs and lows of Argyll and Bute's mental health services.
Worryingly, almost 68 per cent of those questioned said finding how to access help was not easy.
Out of 349 people who got involved, an overwhelming 280 of them were women and 182 who took part were aged between 41 and 65.
Most people, 101 of them, were service users, with 83 staff members, 44 parents or guardians and 27 carers having their say.
Responses were collected using SurveyMonkey and a report on the findings has now been handed over to Scottish health minister Jeane Freeman in the hope of helping improve the services that care for some of the area's most vulnerable people.
MSP Michael Russell was moved to start up the survey after seeing an increase in cases brought to him linked to mental health services. He wanted to hear experiences of clients, their friends, family, staff and anyone in the area about what was being done well and where improvements could be made.
Concerns highlighted included lack of out of hours care, inadequate provision for children and that long waiting times to see mental health professionals are adding to people's feelings of 'worthlessness'.
Many users felt there were too many staff changes making it difficult to strike up any relationship and several service users said if alcohol or drug use is mentioned any help for mental health is dismissed. Being sent to New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital in Inverness also makes it hard for family or friends to visit, making service users feel isolated, said the report.
However, 'quick and helpful' consultants got praise, with one user saying: 'I couldn't function without the NHS', and the service's online Beating the Blues CBT course was identified as one of its best points.
Suggestions to make the service better included improving dementia and autism care, increasing counselling services and hiring more staff.
Educating children about mental health and getting more suicide prevention training in communities were among suggestions offered.