Expansion of text line options for Mikeysline, suicide prevention charity in advance of World Mental Health day

Mikeysline has announced that it is now able to offer three further options for people to contact them using a text- based approach. These include Facebook Messenger, Webchat and Twitter in addition to contacting Mikeysline via SMS text.

The enhanced service has come about through the experiences encountered during lockdown where the text line received three times the amount of contacts, but in addition many people, in particular younger people, tried to get in contact with the charity through other communication channels.  The aim is therefore to make the support service provided by Mikeysline more accessible and available to people of all ages who are experiencing emotional distress or mental health issues and for those in crisis.

The changes are also being made in recognition of the fact that almost 5 years since the charity started, technological advances have meant that people now wish to communicate in a range of ways and that SMS text is not always the communication channel of choice. In modernising the approach and the technology used it has unfortunately not been possible to retain the original text line number, however, a new SMS number is now in place, which people are being urged to add to their contacts and to help spread the word. The new text number is: 07786 207 755.  Anyone contacting the original number will receive a message advising them of the new number and  Mikeysline will also be publicising all the new contact details as widely as possible.

Donna Smith, Chair said: “We are delighted to be focusing on strengthening whilst preserving the text-based support options that Mikeysline has provided for the last five years.  At a time when more people are contacting our services and likely to benefit from them, we wanted to ensure that we were offering as many options as possible for people of all ages to access the support in a way that best meets their needs.”

Emily Stokes, Service Manager commented: “ We are very much aware of the technological changes over the past 5 years and the various options that people now use to get in contact with others. We wanted to ensure that Mikeysline kept up with these changes, whilst making the support we provide as accessible as possible and we felt that we needed to do that as soon as possible given the current climate.  We would hope to continue building on our options in the future as funding allows.”

Hunt for Highland NHS Hero is a real draw

 26 September 2020

The search is on for an NHS superhero in the Highlands to receive a limited edition print of an iconic image created by the world-renowed street artist, Banksy.

The suicide prevention charity, Mikeysline, has been given a print of the eye-catching artwork which hit the headlines after it appeared at Southampton General Hospital at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a gesture of appreciation for the dedication shown by NHS staff, Mikeysline, which operates a drop-in centre in Inverness and a text helpline, is now seeking nominations for a worthy recipient. It could include anyone in NHS Highland – such as domestic or catering staff, nurses, doctors and from any speciality including mental health – who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Donna Smith, chairwoman of Mikeysline, said it was a way of marking the work carried out by NHS staff. “We were delighted to be gifted this Banksy print and really proud to launch this call to recognise one of our many local NHS superheroes,” she said. “We all know NHS staff who work tirelessly in a variety of roles in normal times, let alone in the last six months, so we hope people can get busy nominating someone who they feel is deserving of recognition for the valuable work they do.” The print was donated by Ron Williamson, the founder of Mikeysline, who lives in Southampton.

He managed to buy one after the artist gave permission for a local group to run a limited edition replica of the canvas to be given out to individuals who had gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The original artwork is a largely monochrome painting and shows a young boy kneeling by a wastepaper basket dressed in dungarees and a T-shirt.

He has discarded his Spiderman and Batman model figures in favour of a new favourite action hero – an NHS nurse. The artist left a note for hospital workers, which read: “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white.” Mikeysline service manager Emily Stokes is urging the public to nominate their superhero, giving details of why they think that person deserves to win. “They need to make the case of why that person has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” she said. “It could be anyone who works directly for the NHS. It doesn’t matter what role it is, or what speciality.

“Mikeysline would like to show its appreciation and acknowledge the dedication of everyone in the NHS in the Highlands.”

World Suicide Day – 10th September 2020 raising awareness and working together to reduce the tragic loss of lives in Highland.

Mikeysline is keen to work closely with local communities in Highland to tackle the stigma attached to mental health and suicide to encourage and enable people to speak out and seek support when they need it. One of the ways in which we are doing this is to work closely with others who are passionate about getting these messages out too and we are delighted to be working closely with Nairn County FC and Ross County FC as well as our three Ambassadors, Karen Gillan, Luke Stoltman and Scott Boyd to this end.  Only by talking about mental health and suicide can we hope to make it easier for others to do the same.

On World Suicide Prevention Day we are launching our new logo, which marks how we have matured and developed in our first 5 years, come this December. Our clear message in our logo is that “it’s ok not to be ok”.  The next step is for people to be able to talk about why they are not ok and to seek support.

At Mikeysline we operate every evening of the week, a text line support service and a crisis drop-in centre at the Hive, 19 Academy Street, Inverness. Our services are confidential, non-judgemental and we are there to listen, offer support and where appropriate help in signposting you on to other services that may be able to support you. We will shortly be extending our text line service to include additional options for people to contact us.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, Our Ambassadors would like to share the following:

“World Suicide Prevention Day is an incredibly important day and a chance for us to raise awareness about the staggering rates of suicides all over the world.  I support Mikeysline in its mission to tackle these issues in the Highlands of Scotland. If you are experiencing any thoughts of anxiety or depression, Mikeysline is a non-judgemental and confidential text service offering support.”

Karen Gillan

“Mikeysline is a local organisation to me. Brought up in the Highlands I know how lonely things can get. Having somewhere to reach out to when struggling is a huge help. Growing up I would never have known how to reach out and seek support. Now with Mikeysline there is that support there for people throughout all parts of the Highlands. It’s such a valuable support system to have up here.”

Mental health is such a huge part of people’s lives. If we haven’t experienced it first hand I think we have all  known someone who has. As an athlete and a voice in the Highlands I think it is so important to speak out about Mental Health.

I am a 26 stone professional strongman. Do I have days where I feel mentally drained? Where I just want to stay in bed? YES. I am not ashamed to say I cry. I doubt myself. I worry and stress over the smallest of things. BUT I manage that. Through the gym and physical training I have learned to manage it to the best of my abilities.

If you are scared of admitting that you are having issues don’t be! Shout it out. Shout it out that you need help! There is someone there to help and support you. Just please don’t go unheard and suffer in silence.” 

Luke Stoltman

“Rather than bottle feelings up, reach out and contact Mikeysline or someone close to you. Hopefully there is always someone you can talk to rather than feel the world is on your shoulder. Mental ill health can affect anyone, it doesn’t discriminate and we’ve all been through it at some point in our lives. Reach out and talk and get the support that you need.”

Scott Boyd

Mikeysline is delighted to confirm the appointment of three key Ambassadors to support the charity in its crucial suicide prevention and education work.  Mikeysline, established in late 2015, not only supports those in emotional and mental distress and crisis, but focuses on raising awareness about mental ill health and suicide in an attempt to breakdown the stigma and the barriers to people talking about them openly and seeking support when they need it.

Actress Karen Gillan is a long-term supporter of Mikeysline and has spoken before about the work Mikeysline does as well as visiting the Hive, Mikeysline’s drop-in centre.  Karen supported Mikeysline during the lockdown through making a significant donation in support of the charity’s ongoing work. In this last week, Karen has also confirmed her ongoing interest, commitment and endorsement of Mikeyline’s work through agreeing to become an official ambassador for Mikeysline.

Karen is joined by Scott Boyd, former Ross County Defender, now Stadium Development Manager at Raith Rovers Football Club and Luke Stoltman from Invergordon, five times winner of Scotland’s strongest man. All three are well known in the Highlands as well as much further afield and are keen to support Mikeysline in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining our mental wellbeing which includes being able to talk openly about our mental health and seeking support when we need it.

On these key appointments, Service Manager, Emily Stokes said:

“we are really excited and absolutely delighted to have the support of such well known and influential individuals as Karen Gillan, Scott Boyd and Luke Stoltman as Ambassadors of Mikeysline. All three will be key to supporting us raise further awareness about Mikeysline and about mental health and suicide in general.  Only through talking openly about these issues can we hope to reduce the tragic loss of lives to suicide.”

Donna Smith, Chair of Mikeysline said:  “I fully echo Emily’s comments.  We are really pleased that Karen, Scott and Luke are supporting us in this way and helping us get the message out there, particularly as our services are more in need than ever in these strange and unsettling times. World suicide prevention day on 10^th Sept is a key focus for us just now as we continue our mission to tackle the stigma still unfortunately associated with suicide and our new team of Ambassadors will be key in helping us with this.”

August 2020

Mikeysline is a mental health charity supporting individuals with emotional distress, in crisis and at risk of self-harm or suicide.

Mikeysline operate a text line offering non-judgemental confidential peer support. 

Operating Monday – Thursdays 6pm- 10pm and Friday – Sunday 7pm – 7am.

It also operates a drop-in crisis centre, the Hive, 7 evenings a week. 

Sunday to Thursday 6pm – 10pm and 6pm – 11pm Friday and Saturday.
The Hive will be re-opening post lockdown on Monday 31 August 2020.