Question reference: S5W-09046
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 26 April 2017
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Current status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 10 May 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for children and young people in rural areas with mental health issues.
Answer
Action 12 in the Mental Health Strategy 2017 - 27 commits to supporting the further development of the National Rural Mental Health Forum to reflect the unique circumstances presented by rural isolation. The Government has also noted the results of a recent survey by Support In Mind and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). We welcome the survey's focus on people's experiences of mental health and wellbeing in rural and remote areas, which is impacted by a range of factors.
More generally, the Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies – including NHS Boards and Local Authorities – to support implementation of policy.
The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities, are the responsibility of relevant local agencies. This includes assessing the needs of local populations. It is therefore the responsibility of NHS Boards and local authorities to work with their partners and regularly review spending decisions to ensure they deliver fit for purpose services which respond to the needs of their local population, including children and young people in rural areas with mental health issues.