How is the SNP improving mental health services?

Mental health is one of the most important public health issues facing Scotland today and that is why, even before COVID, the SNP had made it a priority, with a particular focus on investment in and redesign of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

We will increase Scottish Government direct investment in mental health by at least 25%, ensuring that by the end of the parliament, 10% of our frontline NHS budget will be invested in mental health services.

We will build on the success of our community link worker programme, to ensure every GP practice in the country has access to a dedicated mental wellbeing link worker, creating a network of 1,000 additional dedicated staff who can help grow community mental health resilience and help direct social prescribing.

To tackle stigma and raise awareness of mental illness, we will offer mental health first aid training to everyone in the public sector by the end of the parliament.

We will take forward the recommendations of the Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services and the recommendations of John Scott QC’s forthcoming final report of his review of mental health law and practice on compulsory detention.

We will ensure at least 1% of frontline NHS spending is directed to CAMHS support and services by the end of the parliament.

Our mental health strategy is helping to reshape how CAMHS is delivered, underpinned by the principle of ‘Ask once, get help fast’. We will introduce a National Transitions Strategy to improve outcomes for children and young people experiencing mental ill health in their transitions to adulthood.