EDSPACE.org.uk, the successful mental health and wellbeing information website has been relaunched on a new IT platform making it responsive to smart devices.
The website, which is one of four specific to each of the Lothians, was developed by Scottish charity, Health in Mind, in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian and a range of voluntary organisations and was originally developed in 2006.
The website is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and during the *last year, 24,466 people visited Edspace.
Gwenn McCreath, Health in Mind chief executive, explained how the changes had been prompted by comments from people using the site and these were backed up by the most recent Ofcom Communication Market Report which indicated that smartphones had overtaken laptops as the most important device for internet access.
Gwenn commented: “The new platform has not changed the content of the site, but has updated its structure and design.
“Edspace is now more user-friendly and easier to use on smart devices, whenever and wherever you want.
“If someone is worried about themselves or a friend or if they are a carer, a health professional or they simply want to find out more about mental health and wellbeing services in Edinburgh, Edspace can be easily used to help people find out what support is available to them.
“Information is regularly updated by our team of trained volunteers and this is essential to people being able to access time-sensitive information for events and training courses.”
The website’s directory provides information on over two hundred and eighty different services serving Edinburgh and there are fact sheets, self-help guides, news and information on training courses and local events. People can also sign up to receive a free monthly e- newsletter and there are social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Graeme Mollon, City of Edinburgh Council re-ablement and recovery manager, added:
“Information is vital to enable people to find out what support is available to them locally and across the city, and how this can be accessed.
“One in four people will experience some form of mental health difficulty in their life and for many individuals and their families, this can be a lonely and isolating time.
“Edspace is a well-known information resource, which makes it easier for people to find out what services and support are available to them locally and across the city.”
The website was developed by Digijuice Ltd.
*1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015
ENDS
Caption: Catherine Ainslie, Health in Mind web volunteer and Jason Hope, Health in Mind digital communications apprentice trying out the new website on their smartphones.
For further information, contact Doreen Graham, Health in Mind communications manager on 0131 243 0138 or Flora Sharp, Health in Mind information resource worker on 0131 225 8505.
Notes for editors:
Edspace aims
The aims of the website are to:
- Signpost people to appropriate mental health services in Edinburgh
- Enable people to make informed choices in their treatment and care
- Inform people of factors influencing positive mental health and wellbeing
- Enable people to access services and information which may be of benefit to them or someone they support.
The website contains:
- Contact numbers for anyone needing immediate help
- A service directory highlighting over eighty different, local organisations
- Fact sheets covering a variety of topics from ‘Advocacy’ to ‘Volunteering’
- News, events and training opportunities
- Self-help
- Help for a friend
- Recovery
The other ‘space’ websites covering the Lothians are MidSpace, EastSpace and WestSpace.
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Health in Mind. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. Email here for more information.
Check out twitter.com/nonstopstories for your very own media releases feed…
Check out too twitter.com/allEdinburghPR.
To catch up on all the media releases recently posted on to allmediascotland.com, you need only click the link icon that you see towards the bottom right of our two media release ‘gateway boxes’.
It’s this icon, here. It’s your route straight into the rich archive.
—
Health in Mind contact details…
Contact: Doreen Graham
Phone: 01312430137
Email: doreen@health-in-mind.org.uk
Website: http://www.health-in-mind.org.uk
