Question reference: S5W-25734
- Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 9 October 2019
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 October 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Action 3 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027, to “commission the development of a Matrix of evidence-based interventions to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.”
Answer
Since the publication of the Mental Health Strategy in 2017 we have worked directly with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) on the delivery of Action 3. NES are developing a digital, web-based resource which will allow comparison of evidence-based prevention and early intervention interventions. This resource will be known as the Early Intervention Framework for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing.
The Framework is being produced in a phased approach, with each phase launched after thorough user testing. The final resource will be available in full from March 2021 with each phase launching incrementally before then:
Phase 1 (antenatal and 0 – 36 months) completed in September 2019
Phase 2 (3-5 year olds) commenced in July 2019
Phase 3 (6-12 year olds) due to commence by the end of 2019
Phase 4 (13-18 year olds) due to commence in summer 2020
We want the final resource to result in better use of prevention and early intervention approaches by services in Scotland, which includes NHS Boards, Local Authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships. We know that well-targeted prevention and early intervention programmes can substantially reduce the risk of future mental health difficulties. Therefore this resource will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s children and young people.
I have also sent a letter to the Health and Sport Committee to update them on the progress of this Action.