NHS Borders celebrates Creating Hope Awards this Mental Health Awareness Week

During Mental Health Awareness Week (12 – 18 May) we’re working with local partners to celebrate this year’s theme: the power and importance of communities. We want to recognise, support and celebrate the efforts of local people and groups in creating mentally healthy spaces to enable our communities to keep themselves well.

Our latest visit was to Kelso Rugby Football Club to present a Creating Hope Award celebrating their amazing effort to embed good mental health practices and suicide prevention across the club. The Informed Level training to become Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocates was completed by 15 people, ranging from Committee Members and Senior Men to Under 18 Boys, Youth Rugby (both boys and girls) and Mini Rugby volunteers.

Shortly before that, Hawick High School became the first school in the Borders to sign up to the Creating Hope awards scheme. We were thrilled to congratulate five new Creating Hope Champions following the completion of their two day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and Trauma Skilled Practice training (ASIST).

Dr Sohail Bhatti, our Director of Public Health said: “Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times and give us a sense of purpose.

“We have been delighted to award Kelso Rugby Football Club and Hawick High School with Creating Hope awards recently – well done to all and thank you!

“If you are involved in a local group, organisation, team or business in the Scottish Borders please consider taking part in the Creating Hope Awards and making a pledge to create mentally healthy and suicide safer communities.

“Lastly, we would like to remind everyone about the Information Stations for Mental Health and Wellbeing at the drop-in What Matters Hubs which are held monthly in Peebles, Hawick, Kelso and Galashiels, where you can drop in to have an informal conversation about keeping mentally well and finding support.”

Find out more about the support available at What Matters Hubs here: Information Station for Mental Health and Wellbeing | What Matters Hubs | Scottish Borders Council