DEDICATED community workers are reaching out to people in rural areas who have mental health issues.

East Ayrshire and Upper Nithsdale are among the areas included in the project which will also work with lone parent households and homeless people.

A charity, Support in Mind Scotland, and the National Rural Mental Health Forum are working together to help those experiencing disadvantage or inequality.

There are concerns over harder-to-reach people’s mental wellbeing in fragile rural communities following a survey carried out by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Crystal Hill has been appointed Community Development Worker for Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway.

She said: “I am really looking forward to working on this. This project aims to get to the heart of what makes a difference for people with mental health challenges within communities.

“We want to hear about non-clinical support in your area.Are there untapped assets within your community and how can we ensure they are linked into existing resources?

“I have already been contacted by eager contributors and look forward, in particular, to working with people with lived experience of mental health challenges.”

Contact Ms Hill at CHill@supportinmindscotland.org.uk or by calling 07522 188151.

National Rural Mental Health Forum Convener, Jim Hume, added: “We will work with the new community development team to provide answers to rural loneliness, isolation and social exclusion.

“I look forward to working with them to make a real difference to the way we treat mental health in rural areas.”