ENSURING people with mental health issues can get the right support to help their working life, is the role of a new initiative and it is coming to Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly to find out the experiences of people from this area.

With compelling evidence showing a positive link between employment and mental health, Delivering Differently is an innovative new partnership approach, working to create a Fife where people with mental health problems can easily access appropriate support as and when they are ready to make the journey (back) into work.

This comes at a time when mental ill health is now the dominant health problem amongst working age people. Fife’s Economic Strategy 2017-22 is committing to ‘more than double the number of people with mental health problems supported into work’.

But they need to hear of people's experiences and sessions are to be held at Lochgelly Centre and the Maxwell Centre, in Cowdenbeath, to give people from this district the chance to make a contribution.

Julie Paterson, Divisional General Manager (Fife-wide), Fife Health and Social Care Partnership explained that at the same time the interconnection between health and employment outcomes is recognised as a priority within the new Plan for Fife, Fife’s Health & Social Care Strategic Plan and Fife’s Mental Health Strategy.

To help achieve these goals the Opportunities Fife Partnership and Fife Health & Social Care Partnership are working with Fife Voluntary Action and partners to review service delivery across sectors and identify ways that they can deliver services differently.

And they are inviting people with lived experience of mental health problems to attend their local workshop to let them know about their experiences of both employability and/or mental health services.

The first workshop in this area will be held on Thursday March 22 at the new Maxwell Centre, in Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath. It will run from 5.45pm to 8.30pm. Then on Monday March 26, the Lochgelly Centre session will run from 1.15pm to 4pm and free childcare will be available.

These workshops are being designed and delivered in partnership with The Scottish Recovery Network.

Julie Paterson said: “Fife’s Health and Social Care Partnership is committed to delivering local services designed for and by Fife’s communities and as a partner in the Delivering Differently project, would be keen to encourage people with lived experience to participate in the Delivering Differently workshops.

"This will be invaluable in helping to make a difference to supporting people affected by mental health issues and employment opportunities. ”

Robin Presswood, Head of Service for Fife Council Economy, Planning & Employability Services commented: “We are delighted to be a key partner in the Delivering Differently programme.

"It is a long-term vision of ours to significantly improve how we deliver employability services for people with mental health problems in Fife. Hearing from people with lived experience of mental health problems is critical to us achieving this goal.”

Kenny Murphy, Chief Executive of Fife Voluntary Action said: “This is not a consultation on something that has already been decided.

"Delivering Differently is about hearing from the people that matter to better understand what is working well and how we can make services even better.”