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Living Well: Emotional Support Matters project launched

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 13th October 2021
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The ALLIANCE, in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, announce their new project that aims to improve mental health.

The Covid Response Programme aims to improve the mental health of people who are at higher risk of poor mental health.  The Foundation is working alongside selected partners to deliver programmes which will be a mixture of practical training, group sessions and individual advice and counselling.  As well as benefits for the individuals participating, the delivery partners will be supported to increase their capacity to offer mental health support to the people they work with. 

In Scotland, the Foundation is partnering with the ALLIANCE for the ‘Living Well:  Emotional Support Matters’ project to support eight charities working with people who are living with long term health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, MS, and arthritis.

Professor Ian Welsh OBE, Chief Executive of the ALLIANCE:

“It has long been known that living with long term conditions can, and often does, have a serious impact on people’s emotional health and wellbeing. This has been further exacerbated during the pandemic as people have experienced disruption in healthcare supports, increased isolation,  and felt significant fear for both themselves and loved ones.

“As we learn to live with and recover from COVID-19 supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of people living with long term conditions must therefore be prioritised.

“Recognising this necessity, we are thrilled to be working with eight partner organisations on Living Well: Emotional Support Matters to contribute to the creation of a Scotland where people living with long term conditions can thrive physically, mentally and emotionally.”

Julie Cameron, Mental Health Foundation in Scotland Associate Director, said:

“Our £2m UK-wide Covid Response Programme, which includes over £500,000 in Scotland, is designed to alleviate some of the negative mental health impacts of the pandemic among the groups of people who have been hit hardest.

“However, we and our colleagues across the charity sector cannot solve these problems on our own.”

The Living Well:  Emotional Support Matters charity partners are Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, SISG Enterprises Ltd, The Braveheart Association, Versus Arthritis, Diabetes Scotland, Waverley Care, Clan Cancer Support and MS Mid Argyll.

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