In partnership with Mental Health Foundation (this link will take you away from our website) we are investing in a new programme, Living Well: Emotional Support Matters, to protect and support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of people living with long term conditions.

It has long been known that living with long term conditions can, and often does, have a serious impact on people’s emotional health and wellbeing. This has been further exacerbated during the pandemic where people have lost access to self care mechanisms, experienced increased isolation and felt significant fear for both themselves and loved ones.

In August 2020, Mental Health Foundation’s longitudinal study (this link will take you away from our website) into the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health found that 63% of people living with a long term condition were feeling anxious or worried due to COVID-19, compared to 49 percent of the general population.

The ALLIANCE’s own People at the Centre engagement activity also highlighted the disproportionate impact experienced by people living with long term conditions during the pandemic, as access to healthcare supports and self management practices  were disrupted and reduced.

As we learn to live with and recover from COVID-19, supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of people living with long term conditions must be prioritised.

Therefore, together with Mental Health Foundation, we are launching Living Well: Emotional Support Matters; a programme which will invest in eight third sector organisations working with people living with long term conditions in Scotland and supporting their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

We are delighted to be working on this with SISG Enterprises Ltd, The Braveheart Association, Versus Arthritis, Diabetes Scotland, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Waverley Care, Clan Cancer Support and MS Mid Argyll.

The voluntary sector has great relationships with communities and carries out incredible work, which has been particularly evident throughout the pandemic. The aim of Living Well: Emotional Support Matters is to support third sector organisations to continue to grow their ability and expertise as they deliver mental wellbeing supports for people living with long term conditions, whilst collecting and sharing the learning they generate.

To get in touch about Living Well: Emotional Support Matters, please email:

georgina.charlton@alliance-scotland.org.uk

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The ALLIANCE is working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support over the next two years to make sure that the needs and views of people affected by cancer continue to inform and influence the redesign of cancer services in Scotland.

Our key objective is to support people affected by cancer to get involved and influence the national Transforming Cancer Care Programme – a national partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and Scottish Government that aims to join up support for people affected by cancer to make sure people’s needs are assessed at the point of cancer diagnosis, and that people have the opportunity to access services tailored to their individual needs whilst living with and beyond their cancer diagnosis.

A key priority for us until March 2023 will be to engage with a wide range of people affected by cancer with diverse life stories and life experiences, with a specific focus on amplifying the voices of people affected by cancer who are seldom heard.

We anticipate that there will be several different ways people can become involved, communications about upcoming involvement opportunities will be available through the ALLIANCE website and in our weekly bulletin.

For further information please email macmillan@alliance-scotland.org.uk.

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