Before this, Isabella spent eight years as Head of Scotland. During her time at the Foundation, Isabella has developed a range of research and service improvement projects and worked extensively on Scottish mental health policy. She has taken a specific interest in promoting equality and human rights and challenging the inequalities experienced by those encountering mental health problems. Key areas of interest have been the mental health of people in later life and Refugees and asylum seekers and the role of the arts in reducing stigma and discrimination.
She supported the development of VOX, the Scottish mental health service user organisation and continues to support work ensuring that people with experience of mental health problems have a voice in mental health and public policy and service development and to support the development of service user-centred research. Isabella also led on the acquisition of the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and supported the smooth transition of the staff team from the SDC to the Foundation.
Prior to her appointment, she worked at Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) in a range of posts including six years as Scotia Clubhouse director. During this period she sat on the faculty board for the International Centre for Clubhouse Development, a role that involved supporting and accrediting Clubhouses around the world.
She has a Master in Public Mental Health from the University of Glasgow and trained and worked as a registered mental health nurse (RMN) for nine years in a number of speciality areas including acute admission wards, later life and adult community services and latterly in the Southern General Psychotherapy Unit.
Isabella is Chair of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (SMHAFF) and has contributed to a number of publications including editing the Public Mental Health Handbook and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Public Mental Health.
