Ross-shire faces among three Highland names made ambassadors for mental health charity Mikeysline; strongman Luke Stoltman and former Ross County defender Scott Boyd join Hollywood star Karen Gillan in being appointed to the roles
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TWO well known Ross-shire faces are among three famous personalities who have been named as ambassadors with mental health charity Mikeysline.
Celebrated strongman Luke Stoltman and former Ross County defender Scott Boyd have joined Inverness-raised Hollywood star Karen Gillan in being named ambassadors supporting Mikeysline's crucial suicide prevention and education work.
Established in late 2015, the Highland charity not only supports those in emotional and mental distress and crisis, but focuses on raising awareness about mental ill health and suicide in an attempt to breakdown the stigma and the barriers to people talking about them openly and seeking support.
Mikeysline service manager, Emily Stokes is overjoyed that the three illustrious names have given the charity their backing.
She said: “We are really excited and absolutely delighted to have the support of such well known and influential individuals as Karen Gillan, Scott Boyd and Luke Stoltman as Ambassadors of Mikeysline. All three will be key to supporting us raise further awareness about Mikeysline and about mental health and suicide in general. Only through talking openly about these issues can we hope to reduce the tragic loss of lives to suicide.”
Donna Smith, Chair of Mikeysline said: “I fully echo Emily’s comments. We are really pleased that Karen, Scott and Luke are supporting us in this way and helping us get the message out there, particularly as our services are more in need than ever in these strange and unsettling times.
"World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 is a key focus for us just now as we continue our mission to tackle the stigma still unfortunately associated with suicide and our new team of Ambassadors will be key in helping us with this.”
Mikeysline operates a text support line operating Monday–Thursday 6pm- 10pm and Friday–Sunday 7pm – 7am.
Actress Karen Gillan is a long-term supporter of Mikeysline and has spoken before about the work Mikeysline does as well as visiting the Hive, Mikeysline’s drop-in centre. She supported Mikeysline during the lockdown through making a significant donation in support of the charity’s ongoing work. In this last week, Karen has also confirmed her ongoing interest, commitment and endorsement of Mikeyline’s work through agreeing to become an official ambassador for Mikeysline.
Former Ross County man Scott Boyd is now Stadium Development Manager at Raith Rovers.
And Luke Stoltman, from Invergordon, is five times winner of Scotland’s strongest man.
All three are well known in the Highlands as well as much further afield and the charity is hopeful that their high profiles will help to spread the word about its work and the support it offers.
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