User Involvement               Services for Carers                Counselling/Information        Community Support          Policy & Campaigns

History of MHA

Founded in 1950, under the name of Aberdeen and North East Association for Mental Health, MHA was one of the earliest local mental health associations.  Its objectives then, as now, were to provide support services for people facing challenges in relation to their mental health, educate the public about mental health issues and promote mental wellbeing.

The organisation was among the first to provide community care.  Our first residential project, a group home for discharged psychiatric patients, was opened more than 35 years ago and was the first in the area.  We have been providing day services continuously for over 30 years.

The Counselling and Information Service (ACIS) celebrated its 25th year in 2009 and was the first of its kindin Scotland.

Services were developed in response to need and have evolved over the years.  New projects have grown out of earlier ones.  Proposals were often initally turned down for funding because the ideas were ahead of those of funders (eg, Day Centre, crisis beds and single supportedtenancies).

There is a long history of involving service users in the management of projects (at least 20 years) and we still hold service user involvement as one of our top priorities.

Other key themes throughout MHA's history have been the recruitment and training of volunteers and co-operation with other organisations to achieve common goals.  MHA hosted and fostered emergent organisations and a range of other self-help groups.  We have provided representatives to serve on planning groups set up by the statutory authorities and provided comments on consultative documents at local and national level.

Over the years, MHA has organised a number of conferences with eminent speakers.  We took the lead in organising annual events and information for Mental Health Week for 17 years, from 1977-1994, when the task was taken over by a group headed by Grampian Health Board.

We have also sought to influence policy at both local and national levels.  Twenty two years ago MHA was the first voluntary organisation in Grampian to be invited to join a local joint planning group for mental health services and we continue to provide representatives on such groups.  We also submit evidence in response to both local and national consultation on mental health and related issues.

This has been a particularly difficult year, as indicated in teh Chairman's and Chief Executive's reports.  However, our commitment to continue to support some of the most vulnerable members of our society is undiminished.  We will build on our past achievements and continue to innovate in order to ensure that the people of the North East of Scotland receive the help they need.