Debbie Sutherland joins from Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland
Change Mental Health (CMH) has welcomed an experienced third sector expert to take on the role of head of northern services.
Debbie Sutherland joins from Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland where she was deputy head of community services.
She has a wealth of experience in both local and national charities and leading frontline teams and will have oversight of Change Mental Health’s services in the north of Scotland, including its community link worker (CLW) service, outreach support, resource centres and carer support service.
Debbie said: “I am really excited to be taking up my new role at CMH and I feel incredibly privileged to join an organisation with such an excellent reputation for its forward-thinking, ambitious and transformational approach to service provision.
“I'm looking forward to being a part of such an aspirational leadership and management team and continuing with the development of high-quality and accessible mental health services across my community and beyond.”
CMH’s services have displayed significant growth in the north of Scotland in the last year, with its CLW service – commissioned by NHS Highland – expanding to 62 GP surgeries.
The service also recently won a mental health and wellbeing award for best wellbeing service. It focuses on improving health outcomes for people experiencing stressors in their lives due to social problems through social prescribing.
Also taking place last year, the charity’s resource centre in Ross-shire moved from Alness to Invergordon to ensure people have accessible mental health support in their community.
Coleen Kelly, director of services at CMH, said: “We are delighted to welcome Debbie in what is an extremely exciting time for the charity in enhancing our quality and ensuring that people have access to the support they need, when they need it and in a way which works best for them.
“I have no doubt that Debbie will be a huge asset to the charity, will be a great support to people across the north of Scotland and bring her wealth of experience to ensure that no one faces mental illness alone.”
