Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 29 March 2022
29 Mar 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Perinatal Mental Health
It is vital to promote and raise awareness of perinatal and infant mental health. Without access to the appropriate support, treatment and guidance, challenges around mental health can have a significant and long-lasting impact on young families across Scotland. I therefore thank the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee for dedicating time to investigating this important area of healthcare. I also echo the thanks that the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care expressed to those who provided evidence to the committee, especially those who have shared deeply personal experiences.
Finally, I thank members in the chamber for their thoughtful and considered contributions. I will take the opportunity to respond to some of those contributions, but I recognise that many issues have been raised. The Government provided an extensive written response to the committee’s report yesterday and, with regard to those issues to which I am unable to respond in my closing speech, I undertake to write to members to ensure that their questions are responded to.
In the same item of business
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...