“Centred, formally Birchwood Highland, has been at the forefront of supporting people with significant and enduring mental ill-health since 1987. During this time we have seen many changes in the public perception, treatment and understanding of mental ill-health. We need to understand these changes and how we can respond effectively to the challenges of providing mental ill health support in the modern world. This is why we are initiating our own research into mental health within rural areas to identify ways that service delivery can be adapted to rural challenges. We believe this will enable us as an organisation to be ready for the challenges of the future, and will contribute to rural mental health knowledge across the sector.”
David Brookfield, Group Chief Executive
Our Research
An Exploration into the Factors Impacting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Highland Youth Part 1
Our research aimed to gather information from young people living in the Highlands of Scotland, to gain a better understanding about how different dimensions identified as important in the wider literature, impact or influence their mental health and wellbeing. Given the many issues currently facing young people in rural areas, it is our hope that we can add to the knowledge base on rural youth mental health and encourage an ongoing dialogue as to how best to go forward, one that recognises young people as ‘experts by experience’.
Mental Health: Exploring the Current Landscape
As part of our new strategic aim of developing the knowledge base on rural mental health, we released our first report looking at the current landscape of mental health and wellbeing, primarily in Scotland but also across the UK (see attached). The primary interest for Centred is rural mental health but for this first report, urban areas are covered too in order to contextualise the subject. The report reflects on the evidence in relation to different areas of the mental health landscape including the impact of continuing cutbacks to resources, ongoing issues with stigma and discrimination faced daily by service users, the lack of knowledge on rural mental health, the impact of COVID-19, increasing levels of inequality in the UK and the deep psychological impact that has occurred (both for existing service users and the wider population), and finally the current challenges faced by third sector organisations – in each of these areas the evidence presents a rather challenging picture, reinforcing the need for further research and action.
Our Researchers
Dr Clare Daly
Head of Communications and Research
“‘We believe in the potential every person we support has to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, through the process of recovery and the restoration to wellbeing. To this end, evidence-based practice and ongoing research is central to our entire approach’”.
Dr Tai Teng Zhou
Research Assistant: An Exploration into the Factors Impacting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Highland Youth
“Working with Centred on this placement has taught me a lot. I hadn’t realised how sparsely populated the Highlands were until I did my academic assessment for this placement. This really highlighted the importance of Centred’s work and outreach in providing for isolated communities and developing strategies to ensure they are adequately served.”
Sai Amrutha Varshini Yeleswarapu
Research Assistant: An Exploration into the Factors Impacting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Highland Youth
“It has been a great experience working with Centred; I have made professional connections that will be carried forward for a long time and I worked on a project with a positive social impact for young people in the Highlands.”