Mikeysline CEO reflects on first month on the road for mobile Hive
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Emily Stokes, CEO of Highland mental health and suicide prevention charity, Mikeysline, has shared her gratitude to all those who have helped launch the charity’s mobile support Hive – marking the first of its kind in Scotland.
Offering mobile support to areas that have limited access to the charity’s face-to-face mental health and suicide prevention services, the launch of Mikeysline’s ‘Hive on the Road’ has been described by CEO Emily Stokes as “a significant achievement made possible by our communities, for our communities.”
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Ms Stokes said: “The launch of Mikeysline’s mobile Hive is a real testament to the support and work of those in our local communities.
"Having received significant funding from both the Wolfson Foundation and McDonald’s in the Community through support of Craig Duncan, who has ownership, as a franchisee, of a number of Highland McDonald’s restaurants, we have been able to take our services to more remote rural areas, where access and availability to mental health support is limited.
“However, it is worth acknowledging that the money received from McDonald’s in the Community, is in fact funds generated from the Scottish Government bag tax – money that contrary to what its name would suggest, doesn’t go to the government but instead is held by businesses.”
The bag tax is a Government levy which requires any business using bags, paper or plastic, to charge customers 10 pence per bag taken. It was first introduced in Scotland in 2014 and was amended on April 1, 2021.
Craig Duncan, who operates six McDonald's branches including Inverness High Street and Inverness Inshes Retail Park, said: “McDonald’s in the Community was set up to allow local franchises such as Fort William and Inshes to donate the monies collected from customers in our restaurants to support not only McDonald’s initiatives such as the Ronald McDonald House charity, but also those in the local community.
“Mikeysline has had an incredible impact on many people living throughout our region. Their message is an important one and we wanted to help ensure it reaches as many people as possible.
“Mental health support and suicide prevention is not just present in the larger towns and cities, it is everywhere and we must all come together to ensure no one gets left behind because of geographical barriers.”
The Highlands has the second highest suicide rate in Scotland, with higher rates affecting remote rural areas, where access and availability to mental health support is limited.
The introduction of Mikeysline’s mobile Hive, has already seen residents of Fort William, Drumnadrochit and the Black Isle receive much-needed advice and face-to-face support.
Ms Stokes added: “Seeing the van on the road and the attention it has received so far in its journey has been incredible, but it couldn’t have been achieved without the support of our local community. We owe all this to them and promise to continue sharing the message that it’s ok to not be ok!”
Since 2015, Mikeysline has offered confidential, non-judgemental support to people of all ages dealing with mental health issues, emotional distress or thoughts of suicide in the Highlands, Islands and Moray.
It does this via a text line service at 07786 207755, WhatsApp at 01463 729000 and via its website. It also uses live chat, Twitter and Messenger via its website.
The charity also produces a popular podcast, Speaking of Suicide, provides support for businesses, works closely with teachers and pupils in schools across the north of Scotland, and offers face-to-face support in Hives across the region.
Hives are situated at its Inverness headquarters, and in Alness, Nairn, Tain, Balintore and Portmahomack. Here, service users can engage in one-to-one support, or at some venues join in group sessions for adults, men, families and school communities.
For more information about the charity, visit mikeysline.co.uk – or find Mikeysline on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
