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Mental Health CPG publish summary report into the Mental Health Strategy inquiry

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 26th March 2021
Scrabble pieces spelling out mental health

The report provides a summary of their top recommendations from the four inquiry reports.

The Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group (CPG) on Mental Health has published its Summary Report on the Inquiry into the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027.

The CPG began its inquiry into the Mental Health Strategy in 2019. Since then, COVID-19 has stimulated much wider conversation about how to do things differently when it comes to mental health. The CPG heard examples of good practice from across Scotland, but also highlighted gaps in the Strategy, as well as new challenges caused by the pandemic.

The CPG inquiry has focused on four themes within the strategy: prevention and early intervention; access to treatment, and joined up accessible services; the physical wellbeing of people with mental health problems; rights, information use, and planning.

The summary report provides an overview of the CPG’s top recommendations put to the Scottish Government for each of these themes, including:

  • Work with Local Authorities, Integration Authorities and NHS Boards to explore how to prevent short-termism in commissioning and procurement;
  • Increase investment in targeted prevention and early intervention support for minority ethnic people, which seeks to address the additional barriers they face.
  • Incorporate the UN Convention for the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into Scots Law.
  • Provide funded BSL and deaf awareness training for mental health professionals at all levels and across Scotland.
  • Provide sustainable funding to Integration Authorities that ensures all social prescribing opportunities are free for participants.
  • Consider how both national and local government can take a more joined up approach to disability, health and employment.
  • Review the collection of mental health data across public sector bodies, to ensure existing resources can reach their full potential.

Full reports on each of the four inquiry themes are available in full separately on SAMH’s website (this link will take you away from our website). In each report, the CPG has put a number of recommendations to the Scottish Government, Integration Authorities and other stakeholders.

Read the full Summary Report on SAMH’s website (this link will take you away from our website).

Read more about the Scottish Government Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027 on the Scottish Government website (this link will take you away from our website).

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