Public Health Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 May 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 6 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Argyll & Bute Community Planning Partnership Area Community Planning Group Partnership update Date: May 2025 Partner update – Public Health The Public Health team are pleased to provide an update on some recent pieces of work. Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Training The Public Health team is proud to continue supporting mental health awareness and suicide prevention training for people who live or work in Argyll and Bute. Several training sessions are in the process of being planned for 25/26 and will be available to book on a new dedicated Suicide Prevention training platform on Turas Learn. This can be accessed here - Suicide prevention | Turas | Learn or contact nhsh.ab-sptraining@nhs.scot for more information. Free condoms by post A new condoms by post service is available across Argyll and Bute. Condoms can prevent HIV, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. We have a wide range of condoms available. Complete a form on the website below to order free condoms and/or lube - these will be delivered in plain packaging to your chosen address. A range of condoms is available. This is a free and confidential service. A poster is also available for sharing widely. Please contact heather.mcadam@nhs.scot for more information. Sexual health | NHS Highland. Speakeasy training ‘Speakeasy’ training for trainers has been commissioned from NHS Tayside. Speakeasy is a preventative community education programme which helps parents and carers tackle issues around children growing up, including body changes, safety, relationships & sexual health. The course helps parents to build on what they already know about growing up relationships and sex. Fifteen individuals representing a diverse range of professions which work with families and young people attended the
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2 initial training sessions and we are currently developing a plan for roll out. Please contact heather.mcadam@nhs.scot for more information. Screening inequalities People living in the most deprived communities are less likely to take part in cancer screening programmes. During 24/25, 5 x £1500 small grant awards were made from NHS Highland’s Screening Inequalities Fund award to third sector organisations to increase knowledge and understanding of national screening programmes, so people can make an informed choice. Thanks to these organisations to working with us on this important issue. The five projects are using the funding to promote screening in the following ways: Jean’s Bothy In order to raise awareness of all the support that is provided in the local community to keep well, Jean’s Bothy hosted a community wellbeing festival for their service users and members of the local community. This had a focus on prevention of poor health and the importance of screening. Argyll Wellbeing Hub Argyll Wellbeing Hub are raising awareness of screening by providing a monthly “Health and Wellbeing Day”. They are holding a screening information session/presentation on a different screening topic following their Monday Wellbeing Walk. Following this, everyone present is offered a healthy seasonal lunch and the opportunity to discuss the information contained in the presentation. Oban’s Community Trust Rockfield Centre This group is aiming to use arts-based community engagement to increase knowledge of health screening programmes and their purpose with centre users, to normalise participation in screening and to build confidence and capacity within the group. This project will deliver 5 workshops over 11 weeks and will be aimed at those who traditionally are less likely to participate in screening. MECOPP MECOPP aim to produce screening information that is culturally appropriate to the Gypsy/Traveller Community and to cascade this through their networks and social media platforms. Additionally, they propose to organise a health rally to promote these and to invite the community and local services to inform and engage Kintyre Link Club Kintyre Link Club are aiming to deliver a community health project aimed at increasing awareness and participation in national screening programmes among underserved groups within the Kintyre area. They aim to have a couple of drop-in sessions within the next 12 months to educate and empower individuals about the
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3 importance of health screening programmes, addressing common misconceptions, and providing tailored information to overcome barriers. REPORT AUTHOR AND CONTACT Author Names: Jenny Dryden, Health Improvement lead Email: nhsh.abhealthimprovement@nhs.scot