INTRODUCTION

The Skye and Lochalsh Mental Health Association (SLMHA) was initially a project set up in April 1993 to meet the needs of people with mental health problems in the community; there was also anticipation of the increased movement of people from hospital to the community as the number of hospital long-stay beds was reduced.  Interested supporters included the Social Work Department, the then Southern Unit of Highland Health Board and their Skye sub-division, the Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, the Community Psychiatric Nurses, the visiting Consultant Psychiatrist, the local General Practitioners, the Community Advice Service, and the local Council of Voluntary Services.

At the time of inception, a ten-year lease was taken out on a former restaurant building known as “The Cabin” in a central location in Portree, and the name was considered appropriate to the work and function of the project – thus, “The Cabin” building became the focus of the project and the name has become synonymous with the ethos of the SLMHA.

Initially, there were only about 16 users and a sense of concern about the future, but with the vision and robust leadership of the first manager, Mrs Pat Gordon (1993-2000), the project shortly developed into an entity that became a necessary feature to the social work and medical communities of Skye and Lochalsh.  The work extended to the south end of the locality in 1995 with the use of the Kyle hall for two days a week, although this had to be reduced to one day a week in 1998 due to lack of staff. In addition, three Outreach Workers were appointed in 2000, funded initially from a useful tri-partnership of the Health Board, Highland Council Housing Department, and the Social Work department.

In 2003, the Association having outgrown The Cabin, a 10-year lease was secured on a former backpacker’s hostel which was adapted and opened as a new drop-in centre under the name “Am Fasgadh,” meaning “The Shelter.” In terms of size and standard of facilities Am Fasgadh is undoubtedly the best voluntary sector facility in the Highlands. The number of users has now risen to over 200 per year.  The help offered to the users often extends to their partners and children as well, so that the number of people who are actually helped is much higher than the number of users.

The SLMHA continues to be a voluntary, non-profit-making organisation funded by Social Work Services, by the Scottish Executive under the Mental Illness Specific Grant Scheme, and by the Health Board (particularly for the Outreach Workers). It continues to seek funding from charitable sources and is reliant on such funding for a full-time post which is indispensable for its core activities.