Question reference: S5W-00667
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 June 2016
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Current status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 15 June 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision of mindfulness therapy as a treatment for mental health problems.
Answer
The concept of mindfulness is widely promoted in a variety of mental health settings as a therapeutic tool in enhancing mental health and wellbeing.
To assist in providing effective, evidence-based treatments, the Scottish Government provides funding to NHS Education for Scotland to host the ‘Matrix’, an evidence-based guide for NHS boards on effective psychological treatments for a range of mental health issues. The ‘Matrix’ suggests that mindfulness may be considered as a treatment option for people with mental health problems. NHS Education for Scotland also support training in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.