Catherine Eadie

Experience

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  Macsween of Edinburgh

  Jan 1988 - Jan 1989

  Shop Assistant

  During my time at the Bruntsfield shop, I provided customer service, responded to inquiries, packaged food, and supported my colleagues with their tasks. Since then, Macsween has relocated its operations to a factory in Loanhead.

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  Aldus Pagemaker

  Jan 1989 - Dec 1989

  Training Placement

  During my training placement at Aldus (acquired by Adobe Systems in 1994), I had the invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of Desktop Publishing Packages, especially Aldus Pagemaker, and familiarise myself with the company's structure. This experience marked the beginning of my IT and desktop publishing journey, starting on Apple Macs before expanding to PCs. It laid the foundational skills that would support my future endeavours in the field.

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  The Quick Brown Fox

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1990

  Typesetter/Typographer

  In my role, focusing on typography for The Scotsman's recruitment pages, I was responsible for:➡️ Typeface Selection: Choosing suitable typefaces that enhanced readability and appeal.➡️ Layout Arrangement: Strategically organising text to optimise space and visual impact.➡️ Utilising Aldus Pagemaker: I applied my extensive training in Aldus Pagemaker to ensure high-quality layout designs.➡️ Team Collaboration: Emphasised the importance of meticulous attention to detail and effective teamwork.➡️ Handling Pressure: Thrived in a high-pressure environment with tight deadlines, which provided a rich learning experience. Show less

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  Mental Health in the UK

  Jul 1998 - Dec 2019

  Owner - Voluntary Position

  From 1998 to 2019, I led the pioneering UK mental health website, a beacon for those seeking understanding and support. This platform wasn't just a site; it was a community where individuals shared poetry, artwork, blogs, and personal experiences, making it a rich tapestry of collective healing and expression. Featured in various publications, the site's impact extended beyond direct users, influencing broader perceptions and conversations around mental health. It served as a critical space for dialogue, education, and connection, especially vital in the early days of online mental health advocacy. Through engaging content and user contributions, we challenged stigmas, fostered recovery narratives, and demonstrated the power of community in navigating mental health journeys. Show less

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  Places for people

  Aug 2004 - Oct 2005

  Support Assistant

  In my role, I focused on enhancing the well-being of individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges within the community by:➡️ Promoting Good Health: Encouraged healthy living and self-care among service users.➡️ Tenancy Management: Assisted service users in managing their own tenancies, fostering independence.➡️ Personal Care: Provided essential personal care with respect and professionalism.➡️ Privacy and Dignity: Ensured that all interactions maintained the service user's privacy and dignity.➡️ Record Keeping: Diligently updated incident, accident, communication books, and service user file notes to ensure accurate record-keeping. Show less

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  Health In Mind

  Oct 2005 - Oct 2009

  Support Worker

  In my role, I focused on:➡️ Personalised Support: Offered in-home assistance to individuals facing various mental health challenges, ensuring a tailored approach to care. ➡️ Relationship Building: Fostered positive and trusting relationships with clients and, where applicable, their carers.➡️ Skill Development: Helped clients regain, maintain, and develop practical and emotional skills for a better quality of life in the community.➡️ Daily Living Assistance: Supported clients with daily tasks such as shopping, budgeting, and managing their household.➡️ Crisis Support: Provided flexible aid during crises and navigated hospital admissions and discharges, including hospital visits.➡️ Care Planning: Engaged in care reviews, formulated care plans, and maintained thorough client documentation.➡️ Combating Social Isolation: Reduced social isolation by connecting clients with community resources and activities, enhancing their support network. Show less

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  Action on Depression

  Oct 2009 - Aug 2014

  In my groundbreaking role at Action on Depression, my contributions were multifaceted and transformative:➡️ Role Development: Unify diverse job elements into a cohesive, impactful role.Crafted a unique position that set new standards for effectiveness and innovation.➡️ Volunteer Management and Training: Recruited, trained, and managed over 20 volunteers for a CBT-based online self-help programme, significantly enhancing its reach and effectiveness. We achieved a 50% increase in service reach and a 40% reduction in participant dropout rates in the first year. Developed comprehensive support and training programmes, tailoring them to the needs of volunteers.➡️ E-Health Services Expansion:Led a separate group of volunteers in delivering various e-health services, including email support and community management on HealthUnlocked. I initiated and oversaw web development and social media strategies to broaden our digital footprint.➡️ Personal Development and Training Delivery:I independently pursued Mental Health First Aid training, delivering sessions to diverse sectors, furthering my own skills while contributing to broader mental health awareness.➡️ Policy Development and Implementation:Introduced and developed social media and data protection policies to ensure organisational compliance and best practices.➡️ Administrative Responsibilities:Solely managed PVG processing for the organisation, ensuring compliance and safety in volunteer engagements.➡️ Media Representation:Actively engaged with media, representing the charity across various platforms, including radio and print, to raise public awareness on mental health issues.This role allowed me to harness my passion for mental health advocacy, leveraging technology and community to make a significant impact. Show less ➡️ Direct Support: Offered assistance via telephone and email, ensuring timely and compassionate responses.➡️ Health Policy Engagement: Conducted research and formulated responses to health policy consultations, representing the organisation's stance.➡️ Advocacy and Participation: Engaged in key groups, including the Cross-Party Group on Mental Health, to advocate for improved support services for those affected by depression in Scotland.➡️ Awareness Workshops: Delivered workshops to partner agencies and organisations to increase awareness about depression.➡️ Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Worked alongside colleagues to discuss helpline trends, email content, and blog discussions, fostering a shared understanding of prevalent issues.➡️ Networking: Established connections with mental health professionals and organisations across Scotland to promote our services and foster collaboration.➡️ Volunteer Support: Coordinated with volunteers for the planning and execution of their tasks, including recruitment and offering supervision to enhance their work. Show less

  • e-health Officer

    Oct 2011 - Aug 2014

  • Policy & Support Officer

    Oct 2009 - Oct 2011
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  MHScot Workplace Wellbeing CIC

  May 2014 - now

  Founding Director

  At MHScot, we're acutely aware of the pressing issue that poor mental health and wellbeing represent in today's society—a leading factor behind workplace absenteeism, presenteeism and leevism and a profound challenge affecting individuals and their circles. It's not just a personal crisis; it's a societal emergency that demands urgent action.As a proactive Social Enterprise, MHScot emerged to confront this epidemic head-on. We're not just observers; we're catalysts for change, urging employers to prioritise the mental wellness of their teams, volunteers, and clients. Our approach isn't about band-aid solutions; it's about embedding a culture of mental health awareness and support within the fabric of our workplaces and communities.By leveraging targeted strategies and evidence-based interventions, MHScot aims to transform the current landscape. We believe in empowering organisations to move from merely reacting to mental health issues to preventing them, ensuring a healthier, more resilient workforce.3 key approaches underpin our work🟣 Protection🟣 Prevention🟣 Early InterventionWe provide a range of education and training within these areas, including...► Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health (RQF/SCQF)► First Aid for Mental Health (RQF/SCQF)► Organisational Wellbeing► Compassionate Leadership and Mental Health► Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace► Emotional Culture► Positive Psychology and Wellbeing at Work and Beyond Show less

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  Work4ME

  Jun 2014 - Sept 2018

  Director + Bookkeeper

  At Work4ME, a cooperative supporting individuals with long-term, fluctuating conditions towards self-management and entrepreneurship, I took on the role of bookkeeper. This position allowed me to leverage my first-hand experience and understanding of the challenges faced by our members. Reflecting on my journey, I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement Work4ME has offered, aligning closely with its mission and values through my professional expertise and lived experience. Their commitment to fostering flexible employment opportunities has been invaluable to me and many others. Show less

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  The School for Social Entrepreneurs

  Oct 2015 - Sept 2016

  Social Entrepreneur

  I participated in an enriching year-long programme at the School of Social Entrepreneurs, which was fully funded and included mentorship and a grant to propel MHScot's growth. This invaluable experience enhanced my leadership skills and equipped me with the necessary tools to elevate my organisation to new heights.