A LOCAL mental health charity delivering free counselling and advice to people in the North East is moving to new premises to allow them to cope with the consistently increasing demand for their services.
Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA) is moving to offices close to the Music Hall on Union Street in the heart of the city. Their new home will have 9 dedicated counselling suites, separate waiting rooms for adults and children, and dedicated training space. For the first time ever, their team of counsellors and volunteers will also have a dedicated area to rest between appointments and during their breaks. Importantly for their clients, their new home is now even closer to the bus and train stations and is easily accessible from all bus routes.
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The need to move has been driven by the increasing number of local children and adults who are seeking advice, support, or counselling. It is normal for the charity to handle in excess of 9,000 information calls in a year and deliver 20,000 face to face counselling appointments. These numbers are expected to increase significantly as a result of the additional challenges of Covid-19 and the associated long-term restrictions.
To allow the move to happen, the team from MHA have just launched their biggest ever fundraising campaign to help them with the costs of converting their new space into purpose-built counselling and training spaces. Money raised will also go towards the purchase of technology that will allow them to offer a range of blended services to people across the City and Shire.
STV is supporting the campaign by providing gifted airtime via the STV Growth Fund, an initiative which makes advertising more accessible and affordable. A dedicated fundraising commercial for Mental Health Aberdeen will hit TV screens later [in the summer/in the Autumn] to raise awareness of their planned move to new premises. Donald John (DJ) MacDonald, News Editor of STV and former president of MHA was very supportive of the charity’s move prior to his sad passing late last year. It is intended that the main training room at the new venue will be named in his honour.
‘MHA on the Move’ was launched at a live online event, organised by M&G TV + Stream Television, and hosted by STV Sports Presenter Chris Harvey. Chris was joined in the studio by Graeme Kinghorn, Chief Executive of MHA and Astrid Whyte, Counselling Services Manager, and together they discussed the importance of the move, what it means for the North East, and how people and businesses can support their plans.
Graeme Kinghorn said “MHA has been supporting local people, organisations, and businesses for 70 years so we are very excited at the prospect of securing and refurbishing premises that will benefit the local community for decades to come. The occupation and refurbishment of a prominent listed building during 2021 will provide a permanent home from which MHA will continue to deliver its vital counselling services and bring the narrative around mental health awareness right into the heart of Aberdeen.”
Astrid Whyte said “Two of our key projects, Aberdeen Counselling and Information Services (ACIS) and ACIS Youth, will be in an even better position to offer much needed counselling to the young and adult population in Aberdeen and environs. Crucially, for the first time ever we will also serve the disabled community with fully equal access, and I cannot wait to take a degree of ownership of the large training suite available, and finally enjoy some face-to-face engagement with new mental health trainees, from all sectors.”
Chris Harvey, STV Sports presenter said: “Mental Health Aberdeen is a charity close to our hearts at STV, so we’re delighted to support this campaign. It is a fitting tribute to DJ that a room at the new premises will be named after him.
“The role the charity provides to our local community is critical and is needed now more than ever and we’re pleased that the advert will help share the message that MHA is on the Move. We hope it encourages viewers to donate and support their important work.”
