Question reference: S5W-26017
- Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 28 October 2019
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 November 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the Office for National Statistics report, Personal well-being in the UK: April 2018 to March 2019, which records 15.3% and 9.8% increases respectively in levels of anxiety over the last year among people in Angus and Dundee, and what its position is on whether the performance of NHS Tayside might have contributed to this.
Answer
It is disappointing to see the reported increase in levels of self-reported anxiety in people in Dundee and Angus from 2017-18 to 2018-19. However, this may not represent a rise in illness but rather may be at least in part a reflection of increased public awareness of emotional and mental health, and a reduction in stigma, helping people to feel more comfortable talking about mental and emotional wellbeing. Over the full period of the report (2011-12 to 2018-19) the self-reported anxiety levels for both Angus and Dundee City have undulated. The report also indicates that the self-reported anxiety level for Scotland as a whole has improved by 3.4% from the year ending March 2013 to the year ending March 2019.
It would be inadvisable to speculate, on or assert any causal link between the data and any actions undertaken by NHS Tayside. However, it has been recognised that NHS Tayside Mental Health services are currently performing below the standards expected by the Scottish Government. That is why NHS Tayside commissioned an Independent Inquiry into their Mental Health services. The Inquiry is set to conclude before the end of the year with a final report to be published shortly thereafter.
The Scottish Government continues to support NHS Tayside through an established Oversight Group which facilitates both expert advice and practical support to ensure performance improvement.