A SELFLESS Renfrewshire councillor who was called up for a nursing shift during the Covid-19 outbreak has donated her earnings to a mental health charity.

Michelle Campbell worked for the NHS for several years as a charge nurse before being elected to represent Erskine and Inchinnan in 2017.

After being voted onto the council, she gave up her full-time role but kept herself in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde nursing bank, which is made up of around 11,000 casual staff who are ready to step up when there is a shortfall in the workforce.

This week, Councillor Campbell was asked to put on her uniform for a shift at Glasgow’s Leverndale Hospital, which cares for people facing mental health problems.

And as if stepping back onto the frontline in the midst of the nation’s biggest health crisis for generations wasn’t enough, she gave up every penny she earned to Renfrewshire charity Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH).

“The work RAMH are doing across our local communities, especially at a time like this, is so important for people’s wellbeing,” said the 36-year-old councillor.

“That’s why I felt like I wanted to donate my earnings to them.

“There’s no doubt this situation we are in will be making many of us feel more vulnerable. We are all human and we worry when there is something we do not have answers to and, if someone has a condition which gives them anxiety, they are going to feel that heightened.

“We cannot lose focus on mental health while we have a physical health pandemic going on.”

RAMH helps to care for people with conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder. The team supports more than 4,000 people across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, many of whom find themselves in a crisis situation with their mental ill health.

Councillor Campbell said doing a night shift in an acute admissions ward at Leverndale felt like “slipping into a comfy pair of slippers.”

“It means everything to be able to make that difference to our society,” added the SNP member.

“People will look back on this one day and they will think of the people that really mattered. Those are our essential workers.

“That’s why it felt incredible to put on that uniform and be there for my colleagues, as they have been there for me.

“I was always fully supported by my NHS colleagues when I made the decision to do politics. We are a huge family and there are no words to express how proud I am to be a part of that.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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