The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17320, in the name of Roz McCall, on mental health awareness week 2025. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons, and I invite Roz McCall to open the debate.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that 12 to 18 May 2025 is Mental Health Awareness Week; welcomes the work of the Mental Health Foundation in driving this annual campaign across the country to raise awareness, and improve education and campaigning, to ensure that no one is deprived of the opportunity for good mental health because of who they are, the community they come from or where they live; recognises what it sees as the relevance of this year’s theme of “Community” in emphasising that being part of a safe, positive community is vital for people’s mental health and wellbeing; supports the idea that people thrive when they have a strong connection with other people and supportive communities that remind them that they are not alone; notes with concern reports that those living with a mental illness in Scotland continue to be left behind, despite targeted interventions by the Scottish Government and others, and still have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of the population; understands that waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services remain too long and that access to psychological services is increasingly difficult; considers that the reported closure of autism assessment services around Scotland by health and social care partnerships has left many without access to a diagnosis; notes the belief that addressing poor mental health is something that needs to be done as a society, within communities and as individuals, and commends all who make this week possible.
17:16
I am pleased to use members’ business time this evening to debate an ever-growing and increasingly urgent issue in our society. I thank members on all sides of the chamber for supporting my motion and enabling us to discuss these matters today.
As the motion mentions, mental health awareness week runs from 12 to 18 May, and I welcome the vital work that is undertaken by the Mental Health Foundation in driving the annual campaign. This year’s theme is community, reminding us of something profoundly important: the simple human need to feel connected and to know that we belong, and to understand that, however difficult the circumstances, we are not alone. We all recognise the value of strong, supportive communities and meaningful connections to other people. For those who are living with mental health challenges, that sense of belonging can be quite literally life saving.
However, although awareness campaigns are valuable, the truth is that, without adequate services to back up such campaigns, those who are affected by mental health issues are being left behind. I will focus my remarks on the current state of mental health provision in Scotland, for both adults and children, and on raising serious concerns about underfunding, service cuts and a lack of coherent, joined-up provision, in particular in the Mid Scotland and Fife region, which I am proud to represent.
I begin with children’s mental health and early years support, which is—as members will know—a particular passion of mine. There remains a significant gap in provision for children in primary schools. While funding exists for counselling services in secondary schools and children aged over 10 in primary schools, there is no equivalent therapeutic mental health support available for children below that age.
However, the Scottish Government’s own pandemic wellbeing study showed that almost 20 per cent of five to seven-year-olds were already experiencing mental health difficulties, with the figure rising to 23 per cent for eight to 11-year-olds. Those are our youngest children, and almost a quarter of them are struggling before they even reach secondary school. One in four children is experiencing mental health difficulties by the age of 11, and the Scottish Government’s existing provision is quite simply too little, too late.
The evidence from Place2Be could not be clearer. Its services show that one-to-one counselling in primary schools makes a measurable difference, with 70 per cent of primary school children reporting improved mental health outcomes, alongside better classroom learning for 55 per cent of children and improved behaviour for up to 57 per cent of pupils. We recognise the importance of early interventions in almost every other area of public policy, so why is the mental health of our youngest children still being treated as an afterthought? The outcomes are obvious and the benefits are clear, so it is utterly unacceptable that, in 2025, we are still failing to act.
Turning to adult mental health provision, the picture is equally concerning. Scottish Action for Mental Health, in its briefing for tonight’s debate, highlighted that the number of people in Scotland reporting a mental health problem has more than doubled since 2011—it is up from 4.4 per cent to 11.3 per cent in the most recent census. Even more harrowing is the rise in probable suicide deaths, which increased again last year, to 792 lives lost.
Statutory mental health services are stretched to breaking point. For too many people, those services, despite being underresourced and overburdened, remain the only available support when they reach crisis. That is why it was deeply disappointing that the Scottish Government abandoned its 2021 commitment for every general practice to have access to a multidisciplinary mental health and wellbeing service. Primary care access to mental health support is essential. It is the front line of early help and prevention, and withdrawing that commitment has left countless people facing delays, deterioration and, in some cases, tragic outcomes.
I also want to address a vital, and often overlooked, dimension of mental health provision. Too often, when we discuss mental health, we forget the devastating psychological impact of certain physical health conditions. I highlight two in particular: stroke and Huntington’s disease. As the deputy convener of the cross-party group on stroke, I have heard all too often about the profound life-altering impact that stroke can have on mental health. The Stroke Association’s latest figures for my region, which covers three health boards, show that 70 to 75 per cent of people who suffered a stroke in 2023 were likely to experience mental health issues. That correlates with United Kingdom-wide research in 2019, which found that three quarters of stroke survivors experienced mental health difficulties ranging from loss of confidence, anxiety, depression and, tragically, suicidal thoughts.
Stroke is not only a physical event. It changes every aspect of a person’s life, including their independence, relationships, employment and sense of self, and yet psychological aftercare is patchy at best. Although the Scottish Government’s “Stroke Improvement Plan 2023” rightly identified psychological care as a priority, the delivery of that care remains shockingly poor. Measured against the standard red-amber-green rankings, most health boards remain stubbornly in the red or amber categories, and that is simply unacceptable.
I also highlight Huntington’s disease, which is a rare but cruel genetic condition that devastates families, affecting people physically, cognitively and mentally. Scotland is believed to have one of the highest rates of Huntington’s disease in the world and yet, despite that, some integration joint boards are now proposing to cut funding for the Scottish Huntington’s Association, which would effectively end specialist Huntington’s disease support services in those areas. That decision would be not only heartless, but a dereliction of duty.
I hope that the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport will take the opportunity tonight to join me in opposing those cuts and commit to ensuring that families that are affected with Huntington’s disease in Scotland receive the support, including specialist mental health care, that they so desperately need.
In conclusion, I applaud the incredible work of the Mental Health Foundation, SAMH, Place2Be, the See Me campaign and the many other charities, organisations and grass-roots groups that work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide services where the state so often falls short. Support at the right time, in particular through early intervention, transforms outcomes, and I urge the Scottish Government—not for the first time—to take responsibility for the issue once and for all. Our communities and our children deserve better; stroke survivors and families who are living with Huntington’s disease deserve better; and our mental health services staff and those whom they serve cannot wait any longer.
17:23
I congratulate the member on securing the debate.
These days, issues with our mental health or wellbeing are recognised as having a status and significance equivalent to that of physical illnesses. Of course, that was not always the case. I am referring not to the bad old days of asylums, which were not so long ago, but to the general acceptance now that it is no longer a weakness or an embarrassment for someone to admit or recognise that their mental health is not in a good place. That change will have contributed to more people identifying as having mental health issues.
The Covid-19 pandemic must also have exacerbated mental health issues for many people, perhaps as a result of isolation, illness, the loss of a loved one or financial worries, or a combination of any of those. For the young, there are the pressures of social media. How do your looks conform to fashion? Are you too fat? Bullying follows you into your bedroom, and is at your fingertips in the ever-present social media.
For the single parent, there are money worries; for the pensioner, there are money pressures, loneliness, failing health and mobility limitations, with family perhaps far removed or even estranged. Those are just some examples.
So, how to cope and where to find support? I accept that there are huge pressures on those across all age ranges, for which I do not have solutions. However, there are well-known agencies such as Citizens Advice Scotland, for debt support; bereavement services that are run by the national health service and Samaritans Scotland; and more localised help, too. For example, I did not previously know about the Scottish Borders widowed community, which is a peer support group for men and women in the Borders who have lost a partner. It offers a mix of private online discussions, in-person meetings of the widows hope group in Galashiels and social activities, giving widowed people a chance to give and receive support through their grief in a trusted safe space as well as making friends and combating social isolation and loneliness.
The Scottish Borders widowed community has been described by its members as a lifeline, being the only group in the area that is exclusively for widowed people. One said:
“I joined the group in 2023, five weeks after I lost my husband Sean. Losing Sean so suddenly and unexpectedly was devastating to me, but the Scottish Borders widowed community gave me hope for the future and brought me so much joy.”
Being widowed is very different from other losses and is widely recognised as one of the most traumatising and stressful life events. Having access to that type of support locally is, therefore, crucial to the health and wellbeing of the community’s members.
There is also an online service called Togetherall for residents in the Borders aged 16 and over, which provides an anonymous peer forum offering self-assessment for anxiety and depression. There is a 24-hour service for online chat, with wellbeing advisers to support people to maintain their mental health and wellbeing.
There are what matters hubs offering drop-in sessions across the Borders. Looking across to the other part of my constituency, there are men’s sheds—we are all aware of those. For example, there is one in Penicuik that brings men together to chat, taking them away from their isolation once they are no longer working in teams. They make useful items—for example, they have made a bench and bird table for Broomhill day centre, which in turn provides support to keep elderly people away from loneliness and isolation by providing not just lunches but company and a chat.
There is the Kellock club at North Kirk church in Penicuik—that is not easy to say—where men meet for an afternoon tea and chat. They often have a speaker; I was one such at their inaugural meeting. I introduced myself with the words, “Is this where the speed dating takes place?” It more than broke the ice, but disappointingly I am still unattached—I will leave it at that.
There are many more examples of support for those who are suffering. For example, as I know members will be aware, there are groups providing support for baby loss, suicidal thoughts and drug and alcohol addictions. I know of many such groups across the Borders—there are too many to mention, but I know who they are and I thank them, as they do much to help people through the mental stresses that they meet in today’s modern world.
17:28
I thank my colleague, Roz McCall, for securing a members’ business debate on such an important topic. As we approach mental health awareness week, which takes place between 12 and 18 May 2025, we need to take a step back and reflect on how mental health issues truly affect people across Scotland.
So many individuals suffer from mental health challenges that make their lives hard for them, both at work and in relationships. Recent insights from Public Health Scotland show that mental health referrals shot up by 22 per cent in just a year, and it is alarming to see that more than a third of all general practitioner visits are now related to mental health concerns. That becomes even more concerning as the Scottish health survey states that one in four adults in Scotland faces mental health issues—an increase that cannot be ignored. The rise in anxiety, depression, and stress is striking, and points to an urgent need for on-going support and intervention.
I share those serious concerns about mental health issues in our communities, and I want to shine a light on the remarkable efforts to tackle them that are taking place in my West Scotland region. Initiatives such as the men’s sheds in Milngavie, Bearsden and Kirkintilloch aim to tackle loneliness and mental health problems and to alleviate depression through community-focused projects.
The FACT charity in Bishopbriggs, the name of which stands for Families of Auchinairn Coming Together, works to build stronger communities and provide mental health support by breaking down social isolation. East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health offers mental health and wellbeing support to individuals through peer support. Group Recovery Aftercare Community Enterprise in Kirkintilloch supports people’s mental health through peer support groups that focus on stability, hope and confidence for the future. I encourage members to visit the exhibition that GRACE is hosting this week in the Parliament’s garden lobby.
The many great organisations in my region, and all across Scotland, do a fantastic job, and I thank them all. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I cannot mention them all in my contribution.
I want to highlight how people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds see mental health issues. In some communities, it is taboo to discuss poor mental health, which is seen as a sign of weakness. Such stigma prevents people from getting the treatment that they need, which leads to further isolation and suffering. The Scottish Government’s “Mental Health Equality Evidence” report of 2023 highlights that BAME individuals are less likely to access mental health services and more likely to face poor mental health outcomes. The rates of delayed discharge among BAME patients in mental health specialties are significantly higher than those for the general population. We must work to dismantle those barriers and foster an environment in which conversations about mental health are encouraged and supported.
I was fortunate enough to meet representatives of Scottish Asian Counselling Services, which works with people of south Asian descent and those from other BAME communities. Since 2023, it has delivered 180 counselling sessions to 30 individuals, including children, young people and adults. It has delivered workshops and collaborated actively with Sikh and Muslim communities, visiting gurdwaras and mosques, and has created a monthly online drop-in platform to support open conversations about mental health.
If we are to tackle the mental health disparities in BAME communities, we need to take a comprehensive approach. We must work on breaking down cultural stigmas, improving accessibility to services, addressing socioeconomic barriers and providing care that respects cultural sensitivities. By fostering strong communities and investing in targeted support, we can make a real difference in mental health outcomes for BAME individuals in Scotland.
I look forward to hearing in the minister’s closing remarks how the Scottish Government proposes to tackle the mental health issues that I have mentioned.
17:32
I, too, thank Roz McCall for securing this important members’ business debate, the motion for which I was pleased to sign and support.
Mental health awareness week is an important time in the calendar when we recognise the significant advances that we have made in raising awareness of mental health issues while also acknowledging that, as a nation, we still have a long way to go to achieve a society and an economy that promote good mental health.
The theme of this year’s mental health awareness week is community, and its aim is to recognise the role that community resilience plays in providing a positive environment for good mental health to take root. Yet, across Scotland, we see community mental health services being stretched to breaking point, with punishing cuts taking place from Aberdeenshire to Dumfries and Galloway, leading to vital services being reduced, if not closed completely.
In my home city of Glasgow, the cuts have been particularly brutal this year. In an age when increasing awareness of mental health enjoys cross-party consensus, it is all the more incredible that Glasgow’s health and social care partnership has cut its funding for Flourish House, a groundbreaking mental health recovery community that has been based in the Woodlands district since 1997. It is the last remaining example in Scotland of the international clubhouse model. It is not just Flourish house that faces an uncertain future. Glasgow’s Notre Dame Centre for children, the Sandyford clinic’s counselling service for survivors of sexual assault, and even the Scottish Huntington’s Association’s specialist services for Huntington’s disease sufferers are all in danger of being closed due to funding cuts. That means that while we in Parliament rightly celebrate the importance of community groups in providing good mental health, the same community groups in Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland are now deeply worried about their future.
According to research carried out by See Me Scotland, 60 per cent of Scots surveyed think that
“a great deal or fair amount of shame”
is still associated with mental illness, I am sure that everyone in the Parliament would agree that that is simply unacceptable. In this mental health awareness week, we must recognise that if we want to lift that shame we must be willing to finance services that provide help for people who are brave enough to ask for help. It is not good enough to say, “It’s okay to not be okay.” It is the duty of everyone who is elected to Parliament to support critical services. We must work together to end the cruel cuts to mental health services across Scotland and instead create a process that will guarantee the long-term funding of such vital support. Government at all levels must be reprogrammed to prioritise long-term value creation over short-term cost savings.
I thank Ms McCall for lodging her motion, which addresses a topic that I am passionate about. I congratulate the Mental Health Foundation on its persistence in working to raise awareness of mental health issues in Scotland. I hope that the debate will play an important role in raising awareness of mental health and the importance of properly funding community-based mental health services, as well as dealing with the critical triggers and causes of mental ill health at all stages of life. We all need to play our part in dealing with the root causes of poor mental health and securing better support for people in Scotland who suffer from it. For that reason, I am very happy to support the motion, which places such focus on community resilience.
17:36
I, too, extend my gratitude to Roz McCall for securing the debate.
Since 2001, mental health awareness week has marked a time to challenge stigma and push for action. The week’s events, which this year run from 12 to 18 May, are led by the Mental Health Foundation and aim to raise awareness and to advocate meaningful change.
As the members who spoke prior to me have pointed out, this year’s theme is community. That should serve as an important reminder of how connection, belonging and mutual support can strengthen mental wellbeing. Community is not just about where we live; it is also about our feeling supported and valued by others around us, which reminds us that we are not alone.
There is some way to go to improve mental health support in Scotland. As SAMH points out, although the Scottish Government’s mental health and wellbeing strategy rightly emphasises early intervention and prevention, the reality on the ground is that access to local services remains inconsistent.
Too many people can access help only once they have reached crisis point, and statutory services that are designed to support the most complex needs are overwhelmed. The number of people who report a mental health problem has more than doubled since 2011, and 11.3 per cent of people who responded to the 2022 census said that they had a mental health problem, compared with 4.4 per cent in 2011. In a way, that should absolutely be welcomed. Enabling people to recognise that they are struggling is a hugely important part of raising awareness and tackling stigma.
Primary care remains a crucial route for accessing mental health support. SAMH welcomes the increase in the primary care mental health workforce, with 356 new full-time equivalent posts being funded through action 15 of the Scottish Government’s mental health strategy. However, community link workers are meant to be a core part of those services. They play an essential role in helping people to access wider community support and to address the underlying causes of their distress. Important work continues to be needed, such as committing to long-term multiyear funding for community link worker provision across the country, with continued work with partners to standardise the community link worker role.
The Scottish Government must act urgently to work with IJBs, local authorities and health boards to ensure that community mental health provision is maintained and sustainably funded to meet the needs of our communities.
I want to turn members’ attention to the challenges that the system faces in meeting diverse needs across the population. Services that were designed for people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are now also expected to handle rising demand for neurodevelopmental condition assessments, such as those for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which now affect about one in 10 people. Around the country, we are seeing the removal of some of those pathways for people with autism or ADHD diagnosis needs. During the debate on the programme for government, I mentioned that, although we should encourage workplaces and education settings to put support in place, regardless of people’s diagnoses, we cannot rely on those settings to do the right thing, and nor can we underestimate the positive impact that a diagnosis can have for some people. We need the pathways that we have lost to be reinstated.
Initiatives such as See Me Scotland highlight that their research clearly demonstrates the need for on-going investment and a sustained focus on addressing stigma and discrimination in Scotland, especially on how those factors affect the experiences and outcomes of people who live with mental illness. They also underline the scale of the challenge that lies ahead and the transformative change that will be required if we are to meaningfully reduce such stigma and discrimination.
The importance of community extends to recognising the impact on carers and families. The Scottish Huntington’s Association has, I am sure, shared powerful examples with many members. The condition affects physical, cognitive and mental health, and it places enormous strain on family members who provide care.
For 35 years, families in Scotland have been supported by Huntington’s disease specialists from the Scottish Huntington’s Association. That proactive and community-based support has been shown to prevent crises and reduce the number of hospital admissions. It is precisely the kind of service that we should be protecting. Despite that, services are potentially being cut, so the Government needs to work with IJBs in that regard.
I echo Roz McCall’s comments on psychological support for people who have had a stroke. At the cross-party group on stroke, we have heard people describe how, following their stroke, some survivors find themselves coming to terms with their new life while disliking pastimes and even food that they used to like. Families find themselves coming to terms with a new person who has come home following their stroke. The Stroke Association has a brilliant report on that, if anybody wants to see it.
Awareness matters, but it is only the starting point. To build a fairer system, we must listen to those who are directly affected and commit to creating services that are properly resourced, responsive and equitable.
17:41
I thank my friend and colleague Roz McCall for bringing the debate to the chamber ahead of mental health awareness week.
Members will not be surprised to note my direction of travel in this debate—I can almost see their eyes rolling already. On the wall in my office, I have an ever-present poster that says that food is the most abused anxiety drug and that exercise is the most underutilised antidepressant.
I keep quoting “Food for Thought”, a Mental Health Foundation report that is now becoming quite old, which discusses the importance of nutrition to our mental health, not just our physical health. That makes sense—of course it makes sense—because the brain is an organ like any other organ in the body, and if we feed it properly, it will work better.
SAMH is a great exponent of the need to be physically active to tackle poor mental health. As I always say, SAMH sponsors jogscotland not out of the goodness of its heart but because it promotes an active lifestyle in tackling poor mental health.
Access to physical activity is important. I was pleased to hear Christine Grahame talk about the impact of social media and the omnipresent mobile phone. We have to give our youth, primarily, the opportunity to disconnect from social media and their mobile phone. I have not seen too many kids running about a hockey pitch, a netball court or a football pitch while carrying their mobile phone. The ability to disconnect and not have to worry about what our peers are saying about us on social media for a period of time gives us an outlet for anxiety and energy.
That is why I will continue to promote the need to be physically active and the need for sport, music, art and drama to be available in our schools. Our schools are such a battleground when it comes to tackling health problems and poor mental health. In our schools, we are trying to tackle poor mental health, poor physical health, poor attainment and poor behaviour. I go back to my point that a good diet and being physically active tackle those issues better than just about anything else that we can do.
I was interested to hear Roz McCall talk about the plight of stroke victims. I want to highlight some really good practice in Kilmarnock with the Killie Heartmates, whom I visited not that long ago. Those who have a stroke get about six weeks of rehabilitation in hospital, but, after that, they are kind of left to their own devices. When I spoke to the people who go along to Killie Heartmates, they talked about going home and almost waiting for, and being frightened about, their next stroke. The group put together an exercise programme for people who have suffered a stroke, which is supported by a stroke physiotherapist from Kilmarnock hospital. I went along, and let me tell you: I got a fair sweat up. However, the reality is that the most important part of it is the community. After the exercise class, people get a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat, which is unbelievably important.
I could talk about this all day, as the Deputy Presiding Officer well knows. However, for me, the three pillars are good nutrition, physical activity and inclusivity in our communities. If we tackle those issues, we can perhaps get away from the need to increase capacity, because we are always behind the curve and always playing catch-up, which is unsustainable. Instead, we should work on reducing need.
Thank you, Mr Whittle. It takes less and less to get a big sweat up these days.
17:46
I can certainly empathise with that sentiment, Deputy Presiding Officer.
I thank Roz McCall for lodging the motion for this year’s debate. The theme of community is a great one. I have spoken previously about how community-based supports, including from the third sector, are a vital part of our mental health system. That is reflected in our mental health and wellbeing strategy, which outlines a long-term vision of a Scotland that is free from stigma and inequality, and where everyone achieves the best possible mental health and wellbeing. The strategy addresses a range of needs to ensure that people get the right support while focusing on the wider social and economic factors that can impact people’s mental health.
This mental health awareness week, the Scottish Government will be raising awareness in a number of ways. I am looking forward to visiting Gairloch museum, in my constituency, which runs weekly activity sessions for unpaid carers and people living with dementia. That project is one of thousands that have received funding from our communities mental health and wellbeing fund for adults. Since 2021, the fund has provided grass-roots groups across Scotland with £66 million to support those who are most at risk of poor mental health.
Likewise, since 2020, the children and young people’s community fund has provided local authorities with more than £65 million of funding for more than 300 community mental health and wellbeing supports and services.
Does the minister agree with me, and with Place2Be, that we need to do more focused work with young people in our schools to ensure that they have early support and that there is early intervention, which will, we hope, mean that they will not need support as they grow older?
Absolutely. I have met the very impressive group of people at Place2Be. The funding that we are providing to support communities is very much focused on early intervention, prevention and tailored support to keep people mentally healthy.
I have seen for myself the difference that such funds are making in people’s lives. On a recent visit to Empower Women for Change in Glasgow, I saw how minority ethnic women are being supported to improve their mental health and wellbeing through shared learning and peer support.
The inclusion of our adult fund in the Scottish Government’s third sector fairer funding pilot will result in multiyear funding for the first time, with £15 million being invested in each of the next two years. That will give community organisations the security to continue the great work that is being done across the country.
We are also supporting a number of other programmes across Scotland that are targeted at specific groups that are most at risk of poor mental health. That includes the national rural mental health forum, which provides tailored support for rural and island communities with the unique challenges that they face. Another great example is SAMH’s changing room extra time programme, which uses football to bring men together to talk about mental health while reducing stigma and isolation in the process.
However, not everyone is comfortable with face-to-face support, so we have also funded a range of online supports to provide mental health information and advice. Those include the mind to mind and Parent Club websites for adults and the AyeFeel and Mind Yer Time resources for children and young people.
In relation to specialist supports, I am sure that all members will be aware that, for the first time ever, national performance against the 18-week CAMHS standard has been met, with more than 90 per cent of children and young people starting treatment within 18 weeks of referral. That has been achieved alongside an increasing number of referrals to CAMHS for support. We remain committed to meeting that treatment time standard and clearing backlogs by December 2025 to ensure that our young people receive appropriate mental health support quickly.
The minister detailed how the waiting time for CAMHS is coming down. Should we not also acknowledge that too many children are falling into poor mental health? Anxiety is a natural state and a natural part of life, but the fact that we are not giving children outlets for that anxiety is leading them to CAMHS.
I will come to that point in a moment. Although anxiety is a natural state, it can be pathological. There is no doubt that anxiety disorders cause an immense level of disability to those who suffer from them, so I do not want to diminish the experience that some people have, but we can do things to increase people’s coping skills and resilience.
I recognise the significant increase in the number of children and adults who are seeking support for their neurodivergence. Although that has challenged services, NHS boards and health and social care partnerships must prioritise funding to ensure that those who need it most can access assessment. We fund the national autism implementation team to support NHS boards to develop, enhance and redesign local neurodevelopmental services.
I recognise, as my colleague Gillian Mackay has said, that receiving a diagnosis can be important. However, a formal diagnosis should not always be needed to access support, and not all people with neurodivergent support needs will meet diagnostic thresholds. Such support for those who need it should be made available in their local community, whether that relates to education, employment or something else. We are working across—
Will the minister take an intervention?
Yes.
My intervention is not relevant to what the minister has just said, but I want to give a plug for Trellis Scotland, which I failed to mention. It offers therapeutic gardening and horticulture for children and adults. Unlike Brian Whittle, I do not have running shoes, but I have a fork and a spade.
I am glad that you did not raise that as a point of order, Ms Grahame.
Let me assure members that, through the efforts of Christine Grahame and Jim Fairlie, I am well aware of that organisation’s amazing work in using horticulture as a therapy and as a way to connect and improve mental wellbeing.
We are working right across policies and services to raise awareness and to ensure that people who provide services are able to respond to the needs of neurodivergent people. We are also investing in our autistic adult support fund, which provides support to autistic adults without the need for a formal diagnosis. We have invested almost £250,000 in assessment and support for children, in addition to the significant investment across all the services that I have mentioned.
When we raise awareness of mental health, it is important that we raise awareness of suicide, too. We know that supporting people to talk openly about suicide saves lives. Last month, suicide prevention Scotland launched a powerful new campaign to reduce stigma and support anyone who is at risk of or affected by suicide.
On Brian Whittle’s points, I smiled as he said that he was going to bore the chamber—I thought that he was going to talk only about exercise, which is a passion that we share. The evidence is growing on the role of exercise not only in prevention but in the treatment of mild to moderate mental illness. There is huge evidence that exercise is a solid investment for our children. The Daily Mile evidence has shown that, if we want our children to read and write better and to perform better at school, we need to get them moving, and I commend it to everyone in the chamber. Sometimes, mental health interventions do not look like mental health interventions, and the Daily Mile is one of them.
I am glad that a number of people mentioned the social determinants of ill health. The rise in mental ill health comes on the back of 15 years of austerity, a pandemic, geopolitical forces, war, discussion about tariffs and an immense cost of living crisis. We must recognise the social determinants of mental ill health, and I am proud to be part of a Government that is tackling child poverty, which will have a lasting benefit for the mental wellbeing of our population.
I emphasise that improving mental health and wellbeing remains a priority for the Government, even in the context of the past few difficult financial years. The direct programme budget for mental health has more than doubled, and I am grateful for the opportunity to draw attention to that today. I thank everyone who took part in the debate.
Meeting closed at 17:55.Previous
Decision Time