Mental health for all: Acknowledging the importance of Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership Manifesto 2026

Carola, disability and mental health advocate, shares her thoughts on the current state of mental health services in Scotland.

Mental health awareness has come a long way in the last fifty to a hundred years. A century ago, anyone displaying unstable or erratic behaviour would have been swiftly placed into a psychiatric hospital, often referred to as asylums or institutions. Austere, cold, clinical and impersonal buildings, they ensured their occupants were out of the public eye and unable to harm either themselves or others. Patients were frequently chained to beds or locked into isolation rooms for long periods. Furthermore, they would be drugged, leaving them in a desperate, zombie-like state. Prolonged use of the practice caused irreparable damage from which some never recovered.

Thankfully, as the debate around mental health and what constitutes mental wellbeing continues, public perception has gradually shifted, becoming more enlightened and, therefore, more tolerant and understanding of those in society facing challenges, be they relatively mild, making self-management possible, or more serious ones, that require clinical intervention.  

Somewhat ironically, perhaps, one of the events which both exacerbated the incidence of mental ill health and encouraged more openness and discussion was the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 – 2023), when social restrictions and repeated lockdowns meant people were forced to stay in their homes and only allowed to venture out for a short time each day.

Two generations of children missed out on being able to reach recognised developmental milestones due to being home schooled and having limited social contact with the outside world. This, in turn resulted in many experiencing anxiety and other mental health problems at levels not seen before.

Claiming there is now a serious a mental health emergency, Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership publication of their Manifesto for 2026 is a call to arms for the Scottish Government to take definitive steps towards improving mental health support, streamlining access and availability of services and addressing the stigma, discrimination and bias experienced in schools, the workplace and in society by many people experiencing mental health challenges. The Partnership, often referred to by its initials, SMHP, advocates the so-called 3Ps Framework of criteria — Promote, Prevent, Provide, set out below. 

• Promote better mental health for all through an ambitious public health programme, improving mental health literacy and a refocused national programme to tackle stigma and discrimination.
• Prevent mental ill-health in communities most at risk by acting to reduce the major structural inequalities, empowering communities to be part of the change required and acting to increase resources for early intervention and prevention.

• Provide a choice of support, care and treatment in the right place and at the right time for all, based on Quality Standards and evidence from data showing outcomes for individuals.

Improving mental health literacy across the population and an increased focus on tackling stigma and discrimination are vital.

Two further important points which the Manifesto urges the Scottish Government to embrace state that:

• An intersectional, human rights-based approach to tackling mental health stigma, discrimination and inequalities is essential to address the significant wellbeing disparity within marginalised communities

• There is clear synergy between physical and mental health, underscoring the need for close alignment between the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Population Health Plan.

As a member of the Diverse Experience Advisory Panel (DEAP), established by Mental Health Foundation, Scotland in May 2022, I heartily support the ambitions set out in SMHP’s Manifesto and hope the Government will take notice. If the call for a Minister with a portfolio solely dedicated to Mental Health and Wellbeing were heeded, as well as much needed funding sourced, it would be highly beneficial in progressing to the next level of the improvements needed.  

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