Shona Littlejohn will join SAMH having served as interim chair. 

Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) has announced the appointment of its new chair. 

Shona Littlejohn will take the role having joined the SAMH board of trustees in 2019, and has recently served as vice-chair and interim chair.

Her appointment coincides with the organisation changing its name from Scottish Association for Mental Health to Scottish Action for Mental Health. 

It also comes at the end of the charity’s centenary year, throughout which it has celebrated its history and impact while looking forward to the next 100 years.

She is depute director for student experience and widening access at The Open University in Scotland and leads on mental health issues. 

Previously Shona was vice-principal at Robert Gordon University, where her portfolio also covered student experience, including the wellbeing and counselling service.

Billy Watson, chief executive of SAMH, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome Shona to the role of chair of SAMH. As a trustee and latterly as vice-chair she has already made a huge contribution, and I have no doubt she will be a wonderful chair. 

“This is an important time for SAMH as we look ahead to our second century and Shona’s leadership will be crucial to our future work.”

A new vice-chair will be announced shortly.

Shona Littlejohn, chair of SAMH, added: “It is a real privilege to serve in this role.  My greatest inspiration is the people I’ve met who use SAMH services. They are the most powerful reminder of why SAMH matters so much to so many people. 

“We are now Scottish Action for Mental Health, a subtle but powerful change to better represent what we’re here to do.  

“I look forward to working with fellow trustees, Billy and his team, and partners and supporters to ensure that the people of Scotland ask once for mental health support and get it fast. We won’t wait.”