A Coatbridge nurse has become one of the first recipients of a new £2000 scholarship founded as a result of “unprecedented” lockdown demand for addiction and mental health support services.
Katie Ettles, whose work specialises in addictions and substance abuse, will use the funding to complete her current masters degree studies on the topic at Stirling University.
The 28-year-old told how she almost decided against applying to the new scheme, set up by Glasgow-based online and freephone addiction advice service Which Rehab – but fortunately had a last-minute change of mind with only hours to spare.
She said: “I was a few weeks into my course when I heard about the scholarship, and initially wasn’t going to bother entering because I didn’t think I stood a chance as it was a UK-wide competition.
“I decided just to go for it the night before the closing date, and I’m so glad I did! The scholarship will now allow me to now complete the full masters course.”
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Katie added: “As a general nurse I presumed my career would focus on patients with physical health ailments; but a combination of nursing patients with health issues as a direct result of substance use, as well as through lived experience, has inspired me to focus on addiction.
“There’s still a great amount of stigma regarding to addiction and I think that can discourage people from considering a career in substance-use services; there remain misconceptions and people often don’t know what it involves, and I think more needs to be done to encourage people to choose a career working with those experiencing issues with substances.
“I’m hopeful I’ll be able to use my skills as a nurse and the knowledge and experience I’ve gained in this field and use them to help reduce health inequalities and improve the physical health of people who experience substance use issues.”
The scholarship programme will make two awards of £2000 in each of the next 10 academic years, and is open to anyone studying addiction or any other relevant healthcare subject.
Which Rehab created the scheme after “receiving a record number of enquiries during the first lockdown”, and hope it will encourage more people to pursue careers in addiction services.
Managing director James McInally said: “It’s great to hear that our first scholarship is going to make a real difference and enables Katie to complete the full masters course – this will help further her career to provide care for vulnerable people.
“We want to encourage more students to train in addiction-related services over the next decade because there are a spiralling number of people that need support.
“It’s incredibly worthwhile and rewarding; with the right treatment, people can and do get well.”
