Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a Health, Social Care and Sport Committee debate on perinatal mental health. I ask members who wish to speak in the debate to pr...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

As convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I am pleased to open the debate and to speak about the committee’s inquiry into perinatal mental ...

The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care (Kevin Stewart) SNP

I am pleased to respond to the debate on behalf of the Scottish Government. I thank the convener and members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee f...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Sandesh Gulhane joins us remotely. 14:44

Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I declare an interest as a practising national health service doctor. Perinatal mental health problems can include mood disorders, depression, anxiety and e...

Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to open for Scottish Labour and to welcome the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report into perinatal mental health, which is an overlo...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

I commend the committee on its work on this vital issue, and I am pleased to rise for my party to speak in the debate. Scottish Liberal Democrats were proud ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Natalie Don joins us remotely. 15:01

Natalie Don (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) SNP

I was very pleased to see the committee undertaking the inquiry and I am thankful to be included in the debate. This is a matter that is very important to me...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

Thank you, Ms Don. I apologise for not telling your cat that there should be no interventions or interruptions during your speech. 15:05

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I am pleased to take part in this debate on perinatal mental health and I thank the committee for its report. I am told that having a baby can be the happies...

Kevin Stewart SNP

The 2019 report “Delivering Effective Services”, which Ms Mochan mentioned in her speech, highlighted some of the issues that had to be tackled. In the three...

Craig Hoy Con

I welcome progress; it is the speed of the progress that I question. I accept that the minister announced today that there will be a mother and baby unit for...

Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

I thank Gillian Martin and others for their contributions so far, but my biggest thanks must go to the women who shared personal stories with committee membe...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It is a pleasure to follow Stephanie Callaghan, particularly given that she highlighted families of different shapes and sizes. To her list, I add mothers fr...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to take part in the debate and I commend the work of the committee in considering perinatal mental health in Scotland. I thank the Royal College...

Kevin Stewart SNP

I want to clarify something that Mr Hoy said in his speech about a new mother and baby unit in Aberdeen. What he suggested is not what I said in my speech. I...

Audrey Nicoll SNP

I welcome that clarification. Like the minister, I am absolutely delighted to hear that, literally as we hold the debate, the NHS Grampian community perinata...

Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green) Green

I, too, thank the people who gave evidence to the committee and everyone who is working to improve perinatal mental healthcare in Scotland. During evidence ...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

As a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, and as a registered nurse, I welcome the opportunity to speak in this important debate. I thank e...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

We move to the closing speeches. 15:35

Carol Mochan Lab

In closing for Scottish Labour, I again welcome the report by the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I thank Gillian Martin for o...

Kevin Stewart SNP

We are in action mode, driven by the programme board. I highlighted some of that to Mr Hoy earlier. I ask Ms Mochan and others in the chamber to encourage fo...

Carol Mochan Lab

The minister is right that we should all encourage people to participate. I assure him that I will look out for all the actions that he takes—he should not w...

Emma Harper SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Carol Mochan Lab

I want to make progress, please. Scottish Labour’s view is that the mental health and wellbeing of our population should be of paramount importance. If the ...

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

This short inquiry was of great personal significance to me, and it was a pleasure to take part in it. In particular, I am grateful that our inquiry accounte...

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con

Does the member agree that it is often the third sector that provides support for people who have lost a child or who have had a child but are having some ki...

Sue Webber Con

That is very much the evidence that we heard loud and clear. The nimbleness of the third sector provides such a lifeline to those people. As the committee t...

The Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport (Maree Todd) SNP

It is vital to promote and raise awareness of perinatal and infant mental health. Without access to the appropriate support, treatment and guidance, challeng...