The key to vital service

Initiative targets those who need help

Five thousand Council house residents in Edinburgh’s multi-storey blocks have been issued with key fobs as part of Mental Health Awareness Week in October.

The fobs show contact details for Breathing Space – a free and confidential phone line service for anyone who is feeling low or depressed.

The issue of mental health in multi- storey housing was first raised by Betty Stevenson, convener of the Edinburgh Tenants Federation, who is part of the Council’s Mental Health Awareness Group. Concierge staff have also been brought in to help.

Keith Wilson, block manager for North Neighbourhood and a concierge with many years’ experience, explained how it all started.

“A few years ago, one of my tenants was going downhill,” he said.

“She was becoming increasingly unaware of reality and distressed.

“The concierge guys had no experience of mental illness and, despite our best efforts, we felt hopeless.

“I tried to get help and advice. Increasingly, we became aware of the lack of support for frontline staff when facing sensitive situations, especially out of hours.”

The awareness group was set up to look at how to improve things.

The NHS provided concierge staff with an out-of-hours number to call in a crisis and information on the Breathing Space phone line.

The Samaritans are also advertised in all multi-storey blocks.

More than 200 concierge and customer service staff have been attending a short course on mental health.

This will be followed by the half-day training course Safe Talk, which teaches participants to recognise and engage with people who have thoughts of suicide.

“The guys now have a sixth sense about which tenants are vulnerable and can keep an eye out for them,” said Keith.