Community mental health support to be expanded
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 13th January 2022

The expansion follows the Scottish Government's commitment to ensure every GP practice has a mental health and wellbeing service by 2026.
The Scottish Government have announced funding of up to £40 million per year (this link will take you away from our website) to provide more mental health and wellbeing services in GP practices and other community settings. This will enable patients seeking mental health support to access a range of services via their local surgery, without needing to see their GP or receive a formal referral to a specialist service.
Initial funding of £1.5 million comes from the Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund, and it is estimated that by the end of this parliament total investment through this route will reach £100 million. Further community support including for addition, social security and food banks, will be signposted by dedicated link workers.
In their most recent programme for government, the Scottish Government stated their aim that “by 2026, every GP Practice will have access to a mental health and wellbeing service, funding 1,000 additional dedicated staff who can help grow community mental health resilience and direct social prescribing.”
The ALLIANCE have welcomed this commitment, and our own Community Links Practitioner (CLP) programme currently employs 55 links workers across Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire. Data from March 2021 indicates that a total of 218 CLPs had been recruited under the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27, alongside a forecast of 298 additional mental health workers by March 2022.
End of page.
You may also like:
Companions of blind and partially sighted people can now travel for free on ScotRail trains.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE welcomes the homecare medicines review to improve care for those who need it.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE wants to hear about your communication experiences
Continue readingRead a statement from our Chief Officer, Sara Redmond, on the recent social security announcement from the UK government.
Continue readingThe conference celebrates the range of work developed as part of Collective Advocacy facilitated by CAPS.
Continue readingThe £1m Commissioning Fund is a pivotal resource within the FORTH2O project, designed to spark investment.
Continue readingCould you help shape the future of Human Rights in Scotland? Apply to join the SNAP2 Leadership Panel
Continue readingVisit the Defib finder website to find the defibrillators closest to you.
Continue readingScottish Recovery Network are hosting a series of workshops on peer support in suicide prevention across Scotland this April.
Continue readingHave your say on what you would like to see from a future Contact Scotland BSL service.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE and Scottish Government have produced several resources on heathy aging, in support of the Women's Health Plan.
Continue readingApril is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a fantastic annual opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Continue readingThe UN ICESCR Committee has issued its recommendations and several reflect points made by the ALLIANCE and our members.
Continue readingEPI-SCOT aims to understand how knowing the cause of a young person’s epilepsy might lead to more effective treatments.
Continue readingThe report states that community health and social care finances are increasingly precarious, and encourages IJBs to work with partners.
Continue readingThis year has seen continued growth in membership, reach and impact, through our delivery of a diverse range of programmes,
Continue readingCarers Scotland launches their State of Caring in Scotland 2024 research report.
Continue readingThe ALISS team is delighted to announce the launch of ALISS Analytics, a new tool designed to provide easy access to valuable data on ALISS.
Continue readingThe Digital Citizen Panel is pleased to share the first member spotlight, highlighting member Pasna Sallis and her work with older adults
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE responds to the Equality, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee's inquiry into the the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Continue readingRaise awareness and support history making for the Deaf Community in Fife.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingOur response calls for a human rights based approach to outcomes, and to consider how to strengthen the SHRC.
Continue readingResearchers at the University of Strathclyde want to hear your opinions about what the hospitals of the future should look and feel like
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE are establishing a peer network to connect professionals working in Glasgow who are passionate about digital inclusion.
Continue reading