Question reference: S5O-01651
- Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 20 December 2017
-
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 January 2018
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that custody units and prisons provide the necessary and appropriate support for people with mental health conditions.
Answer
Action 15 within the Mental Health Strategy outlines our clear commitment to funding 800 additional mental health workers in key settings, including custody suites and prisons, ensuring that local provision and support is at the heart of our plans. Funding for this commitment will reach £35 million by 2022.
It is vital that this investment has the greatest possible impact and acts as a catalyst for joint working between Health and Justice services. Therefore, the Scottish Government has asked the Health and Justice Collaboration Improvement Board to develop recommendations on how to achieve this by its next meeting on 27 March.