Hansard

I thank my colleague, Roz McCall, for securing a members’ business debate on such an important topic. As we approach mental health awareness week, which takes place between 12 and 18 May 2025, we need to take a step back and reflect on how mental health issues truly affect people across Scotland.

So many individuals suffer from mental health challenges that make their lives hard for them, both at work and in relationships. Recent insights from Public Health Scotland show that mental health referrals shot up by 22 per cent in just a year, and it is alarming to see that more than a third of all general practitioner visits are now related to mental health concerns. That becomes even more concerning as the Scottish health survey states that one in four adults in Scotland faces mental health issues—an increase that cannot be ignored. The rise in anxiety, depression, and stress is striking, and points to an urgent need for on-going support and intervention.

I share those serious concerns about mental health issues in our communities, and I want to shine a light on the remarkable efforts to tackle them that are taking place in my West Scotland region. Initiatives such as the men’s sheds in Milngavie, Bearsden and Kirkintilloch aim to tackle loneliness and mental health problems and to alleviate depression through community-focused projects.

The FACT charity in Bishopbriggs, the name of which stands for Families of Auchinairn Coming Together, works to build stronger communities and provide mental health support by breaking down social isolation. East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health offers mental health and wellbeing support to individuals through peer support. Group Recovery Aftercare Community Enterprise in Kirkintilloch supports people’s mental health through peer support groups that focus on stability, hope and confidence for the future. I encourage members to visit the exhibition that GRACE is hosting this week in the Parliament’s garden lobby.

The many great organisations in my region, and all across Scotland, do a fantastic job, and I thank them all. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I cannot mention them all in my contribution.

I want to highlight how people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds see mental health issues. In some communities, it is taboo to discuss poor mental health, which is seen as a sign of weakness. Such stigma prevents people from getting the treatment that they need, which leads to further isolation and suffering. The Scottish Government’s “Mental Health Equality Evidence” report of 2023 highlights that BAME individuals are less likely to access mental health services and more likely to face poor mental health outcomes. The rates of delayed discharge among BAME patients in mental health specialties are significantly higher than those for the general population. We must work to dismantle those barriers and foster an environment in which conversations about mental health are encouraged and supported.

I was fortunate enough to meet representatives of Scottish Asian Counselling Services, which works with people of south Asian descent and those from other BAME communities. Since 2023, it has delivered 180 counselling sessions to 30 individuals, including children, young people and adults. It has delivered workshops and collaborated actively with Sikh and Muslim communities, visiting gurdwaras and mosques, and has created a monthly online drop-in platform to support open conversations about mental health.

If we are to tackle the mental health disparities in BAME communities, we need to take a comprehensive approach. We must work on breaking down cultural stigmas, improving accessibility to services, addressing socioeconomic barriers and providing care that respects cultural sensitivities. By fostering strong communities and investing in targeted support, we can make a real difference in mental health outcomes for BAME individuals in Scotland.

I look forward to hearing in the minister’s closing remarks how the Scottish Government proposes to tackle the mental health issues that I have mentioned.