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Well Issue 3: Autumn/Winter 2003/04
well?... what else?
mental health and well-being... news and information...
NATIONAL PROGRAMME ACTION PLAN (2003 TO 2006) AND REGIONAL SEMINARS
The three-year National Programme Action Plan is now available and sets the framework for local and national action on improving mental health and well-being. Copies are available from the website.
Five regional seminars to promote the Action Plan are taking place this autumn as follows:
Inverness, 23 September
Ayr, 26 September
Edinburgh, 30 September
Glasgow, 2 October
Aberdeen, 15 October
Contact Sam Gough,
Convention Management Centre
Tel: 0131 623 2529,sam@conventionmanagement.co.uk
NATIONAL PROGRAMME WEBSITE
Launched in early September,
www.wellontheweb.net is a useful, interactive portal providing concise information on the National Programme with links to national and local initiatives. Please register on-line to receive regular updates.
"CHOOSE LIFE": NATIONAL STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT SUICIDE IN SCOTLAND
Launched in December 2002, the "Choose Life" Strategy and Action Plan is a 10-year plan which aims to reduce the rate of suicide in Scotland by 20% by 2013.
Recent Developments
In July 2003, the Scottish Executive published guidance for 32 community planning partners on the implementation of "Choose Life" and how 9m of funding is to be disseminated locally to support
its implementation. By August, every Community Planning Partnership had identified their local "Choose Life" lead co-ordinator who are meeting in early November when further guidance will be issued. By December 2003, each local Community Planning Partnership will have completed their first action plan as part of their local community plans and local joint Health Improvement Plans. All coordinators' contact details are on the National Programme website
www.wellontheweb.net
Implementation Leader
The National Head of Implementation for "Choose Life" will be appointed in September - check the website for details. We have had a fantastic response and considerable interest has been generated in the UK and abroad.
BREATHING SPACE
Since its launch in April 2002, The "Breathing Space" Telephone Advice Line has received around 9,000 calls. A fresh advertising campaign for "Breathing Space", is to be launched in early autumn still focusing on the Greater Glasgow and Argyll and Clyde areas. However, an independent evaluation is planned, after which it is hoped that the "Breathing Space" service will be extended across the whole of Scotland in 2004.
www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR SCOTLAND
Betty Kitchener, director and developer of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Programme based at the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University, led two very popular seminars in Glasgow and Edinburgh in April.
In September, Betty will be training 13 MHFA instructors for Scotland as part of a national Mental Health Literacy pilot project. These instructors will then evaluate the course and materials, and
use the experience and learning to test and then adapt the MHFA course for further use across Scotland from summer 2004.
www.mhfa.com.au
BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
As part of the National Programme, the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health (SDC), the Office for Public Management (OPM) Scotland and the Scottish Council Foundation were commissioned to undertake a project on community capacity building for mental health improvement. A report and summary, 'Building Community Well-Being', was jointly published in June 2003, by the National Programme and Scottish Executive colleagues in Social Justice and Communities. Copies of the report are available from the National Programme Team or at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/society/bcwm-00.asp
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN LATER LIFE
The Future Programme
The National Programme, together with the Scottish Executive's Older People's Unit and NHS Health Scotland's Later Life Programme, will be publishing a report in October which outlines the future work of this collaborative programme, involving the development of health in later life interest groups, and a small grants scheme to support local initiatives in improving mental health and well-being in later life.
EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE WORKSHOPS
Building local knowledge
Workshops aimed at increasing people's knowledge of the evidence base for mental health improvement and, more importantly, how the evidence can be used in practice have been held in every Health Board area. We will report on progress in the next edition of
Well? (March 2004).
HEALTHY LIVING LOGO FOR MENTAL WELL-BEING
The Scottish Executive has developed a family of logos to brand its range of Healthy Living activities. The logo for mental well-being has been revised slightly, so if you have a digital version of the old logo (issued before July 2003) please delete this. The updated version is available from the National Programme Team.
If you would like to use this logo contact the National Programme Team on 0131 244 2551
DIARY DATES
1 October
Launch of the National Audit of Postnatal Depression
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Contact: Dr Laura Sharp,
Tel: 0131 455 5326
Email:
l.sharp@napier.ac.uk
3 October
'Take Time' Counselling in Schools -
What Works?
Aberdeen Exhibition Centre.
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/taketime
6-10 October
'Mental Health Week' -
Scotland-wide events.
Contact your local Health Promotion Department for details.
9 October
'Equal Minds: Addressing Mental Health Inequalities in Scotland' Edinburgh Conference Centre,
Heriot Watt University.
Tel: 0131 555 5959
Email:
events@sdcmh.org.uk
18 November
Health Body Healthy Mind:
Exploring Mental Health, Diet and Physical Activity
Glasgow Marriott Hotel
Tel: 0141 201 9264
3 December
Scottish Arts and Disability Conference
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Tel: 0131 337 2736
Email:
louise@eventmechanics.co.uk
INTERESTING READING AND WEBSITES
Promoting Mental, Emotional and Social Health: A Whole School Approach
Katherine Weare,
Published by Routledge, 2000
Needs Assessment Report on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Final Report May 2003
Scottish Needs Assessment Programme
Consulting Children, young people and parents May 2003,
Public Health Institute for Scotland
www.phis.org.uk
Radical Mentalities, Making it Effective: a guide to evidence based mental health promotion
Dr Lynne Friedli
Published by mentality
www.mentality.org.uk
Insight: case studies in community development and health in Scotland Published by NHS Health Scotland, 7.50.
Tel: 0131 536 5500
Mental health and well-being information needs assessment
The University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Development Centre, June 2003,
www.sdcmh.org.uk
www.loonscape.com
Insurance and financial services information for people with mental health problems
Please register your interest in staying in touch with the work of the National Programme by sending us your contact details.
Well@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0131 244 2551
Fax: 0131 244 5076
The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being
Scottish Executive,
St Andrew's House (3ES),
Regent Road,
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
www.wellontheweb.net
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