Rural mental health: Standing in the gap of ‘at home’ care
In rural Scotland, cleaners like Lara play a crucial role in rural mental health support, bridging gaps in care by spotting needs and connecting people to help.
Lara, the owner of a small cleaning company in the Cairngorms, The Spotless Cleaning Company, has always been dedicated to her work. She and her small team take pride in maintaining the cleanliness and order of the homes and businesses they serve.
They often stand in the gap of ‘at home’ care and are the early warning for families who may live a distance away, offering signposting for physical and mental health interventions.
Knowing the clients
and seeing the need
The Spotless Cleaning Company team have weekly eyes on their clients. Through regular contact, trust builds.
The team can spot differences in their clients’ physical and mental health, and they know when things are wrong. “We get to know our clients,” said Lara. “We know their stories and can spot when they’re having a bad week.”
For example, it could be a client shows signs of:
- Neglect: where standards of personal hygiene are slipping and clothes smell.
- Dementia: where the client forgets to eat or has out-of-date food in the fridge.
- Depression: where a client no longer goes out to meet friends or go shopping.
Lara and her team feel a deep sense of responsibility for their clients and can see when additional help is needed to support their clients’ physical or mental wellbeing. This responsibility is more acute because of their rural location, where there are fewer local resources available and so they’ll speak with the families to flag their concerns.
Rural challenges to mental health
Geographical isolation
Many rural areas in Scotland are remote, making it difficult for residents to access mental health services. For example, 50% of respondents in a survey identified public transport as a significant barrier to receiving adequate mental health care.
Travel stress
The stress of travelling long distances for appointments can exacerbate mental health issues. This is particularly true for those living on islands or in remote areas.
Stigma and community attitudes
Mental health issues often carry stigma, which can be more pronounced in close-knit rural communities. Many individuals feel they cannot be open about their mental health problems due to fear of judgment.
Employment and financial stress
Economic challenges, such as unemployment or underemployment, can contribute to mental health issues. The farming community, for example, faces unique stressors related to economic instability.
Boosting mental health awareness to build confidence
Lara felt that her team needed to boost their mental health awareness and get confirmation that the support and signposting they were offering were correct.
They signed up for the Change Mental Health’s Rural Connections – Insight into Mental Health learning. This virtual session delivered insight into the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues and how to care for themselves, as well as providing initial support to others
“The course was great. There were some new insights, and it was a good refresher for us too, as some of the team come from a care background anyway.
“It was reassuring to know that what we were already doing was the right thing. It built our confidence when speaking with the families of our clients, especially when flagging an emerging mental health care need and offering suggestions.”
The support
Armed with their new knowledge and reassurance, Lara and the team felt confident to gently engage with their clients in conversations about their wellbeing, listening without judgement while offering support and encouragement.
For clients who may show signs of neglect, the team feel confident now to set boundaries of self-care and agree self-care targets. The team will ask questions to better understand what stands in the way of good hygiene. It could be there are no clean clothes, or forgetfulness on how to use household appliances or fearful they may slip in the bath. Because of their regular contact, they are able to acknowledge progress made and celebrate even the smallest of improvements.
For clients with dementia, while not in the usual remit of cleaning tasks, the team will take the time to check the fridge and throw out old or out-of-date food.
During their cleaning time, the team will chat with clients. They will often be the first to notice changes in behaviour. The client may no longer talk about meeting friends or going to the shops. The team will explore why the client has stopped going out and will start to encourage them to catch up with friends and may even motivate them to attend local groups, or meet-ups they know of as part of their local community.
The power of compassion
Lara and her team’s compassionate approach makes a significant difference in the lives of their clients.
Lara’s story highlights the importance of compassion and understanding in supporting individuals with mental health issues. By taking the time to listen and offer help, she and her team are making a positive impact in her community.
Through education, empathy and connection, we can all contribute to the well–being of those around us.
Along with cleaning, their additional care and oversight of their clients delivers pragmatic mental health support in their rural community – showing how the needs of rural communities are different within Scotland.
support
If you are interested in mental health training for rural organisations and want to know when the next Rural Connections mental health training will occur, please contact our Training team or book a space for one of the upcoming sessions. They can give you more information and answer any questions you may have about online and face-to-face training.
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
