AN INNOVATIVE new 'shared centre' for mental health and carers' services in Helensburgh has been officially opened.

Maureen Watt MSP, Scotland's minister for mental health, performed the opening ceremony on Tuesday after being given a guided tour of the premises in Lomond Street.

Lomond House combines services for unpaid carers, specialist support for children and young people with mental health issues and support for families.

This is understood to be the first co-location of its kind in Scotland and creates opportunities for joint working and new and improved services for the local community.

The facility brings together the Helensburgh and Lomond Carers SCIO, children and adolescent mental health services provided by Argyll and Bute's health and social care partnership (HSCP), and the Children 1st charity, which provides support for families in the area with young children.

Speaking at Tuesday's ceremony, Ms Watt said: “I am delighted to be here today to officially open this new facility in Helensburgh.

"It is good to see Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership and the third sector working collaboratively to improve mental health and to bring services together.

“Mental health is one of the Scottish Government’s main priorities, and later this year we will be publishing our new ten-year strategy to transform mental health.”

Christina West, chief officer of the Argyll and Bute HSCP, said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their innovative thinking and forward looking approach in bringing together all of these services under the one roof.

“This really is a great example of integrated working between the statutory and third sector and I am sure that it will deliver real benefits for the people of Helensburgh and Lomond.”

The centre, which began operating in March, will also provide facilities for young carers in the Helensburgh and Lomond area – several of whom spoke to Ms Watt during Tuesday's visit.

Eileen McCrory, manager of Helensburgh and Lomond Carers SCIO, said: “There is a great deal of synergy between the services involved in this project, particularly in relation to carers who are caring for children or adolescents with mental health issues.

“We were also delighted to secure the pro-bono support of the designer John Amabile, who assisted with the design of areas to be used by young carers.

"It is an excellent facility and we believe that co-location will provide opportunities for closer working and the introduction and improvement of services for local people.”

Children 1st's local service manager, Ruth Ritchie, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to boost the support we offer to local families who are going through difficult times.

"In particular sharing premises with the children and adolescent mental health team will enable us to better support the recovery of children who’ve been emotionally scarred by abuse and other traumatic experiences.”