Meeting of the Parliament 27 November 2019
Time is tight and I want to cover one of the main areas that Willie Rennie covered.
Through a strong collaborative approach across different services, the programme now provides support to well over 4,500 people and it has been extended to young people aged under 18.
Mr Rennie spent some time talking about the police and I, too, want to touch on the emergency services. Our emergency services staff work hard every day to keep people across Scotland safe, and their welfare is crucial. They face challenging and at times dangerous situations that can have an impact on their mental wellbeing. The Scottish Government is committing £180,000 to extend the lifelines Scotland wellbeing programme to blue-light responders. Extending the programme is very important for the resilience and wellbeing of first responders in the blue-light services and will ensure that they feel supported, informed and valued.
Mr Rennie mentioned the research that was commissioned by Police Scotland. That research indicates an employer that is taking the mental health of its staff seriously. It is good practice that Police Scotland wants to understand what needs to be done, and we look forward to analysing that research when it is published.
We have in place a 10-year mental health strategy that emphasises the importance of good mental health alongside good physical health. Yesterday, we published an update on the strategy that presented a comprehensive range of work that is being taken forward across Scotland to deliver on and, indeed, move beyond the original scope of the strategy. We will work with partners including members from across the chamber to take an organised and systematic approach to meeting Scotland’s mental health needs, now and in the future.
I move amendment S5M-20035.4, to leave out from “there is a mental health crisis” to end and insert:
“mental health and physical health must be treated with parity of esteem; further recognises that there is increased demand for mental health services as stigma has thankfully diminished; believes that this requires the creation of new services to both meet mental health service provision and empower prevention activities that support broader mental wellbeing; recognises the commitment and contribution of those working across Scotland to improve services, implement change and ensure that mental health is given the focus that it rightly deserves; commends the vital role of police officers and staff in keeping communities safe and supports initiatives being undertaken by Police Scotland to create a safe, positive and healthy working environment; further supports the Lifelines project, which works with blue light services to provide trauma support; welcomes that £60 million of investment in additional school counselling services across all of Scotland that is being taken forward in partnership with local government; notes that recruitment, through integration joint boards, is on track for 800 dedicated mental health professional in a range of key settings, including A&E departments, GP practices, police stations and prisons; further notes the steps outlined in the second annual report on the implementation of the Mental Health Strategy, but seeks greater pace in addressing the recommendations of the audit of rejected referrals and the report by the Youth Commission on Mental Health Services; believes that the mental wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in society has been negatively impacted by a series of welfare cuts by the UK Government, starting with the Welfare Reform Act 2012, and continuing right up to this year with the changes to Pension Credit, and further believes it is clear that Scotland’s example should be followed and that future UK Government social security policies must deliver the same standards of dignity, respect and fairness as Scotland’s policies.”
14:58Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S5M-20035.4 Mental Health Motion