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National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being: annual review 2003-2004
PRIORITY AREAS
A. Improving Infant Mental Health (early years)
Research has shown that risk factors and vulnerabilities in infancy and early childhood are associated with mental health problems in children and young people, and a heightened risk of mental illness in adult life. The ability to improve mental health and well-being in the early years is therefore a vital area for action.
At a strategic level, the Scottish Executive's forthcoming Integrated Early Years Strategy provides a framework for early years action and focuses on measures to encourage the health, social care, education and other sectors to work together to provide integrated, accessible and high quality support services for families and young children in the early years. One of the key outcomes is to improve children's cognitive, social and emotional development, notably self-esteem, confidence, resilience and independence.
In addition, ensuring the best possible start for children in their early years, promoting the mental health and well-being of parents, and working to prevent and reduce the impact of mental health problems for parents are also key areas for action. This includes work to promote awareness of post-natal depression, early prevention and intervention, and support for recovery from post-natal depression.
Progress
THE 'STARTING WELL' DEMONSTRATION PROJECT Funded by the Scottish Executive, 'Starting Well' is a national demonstration project which has a particular emphasis on improving mental health and well-being in the early years in the Greater Easterhouse, Gorbals, Govanhill and Toryglen areas of Glasgow. The project includes providing care and support to vulnerable children, their parents and carers. Support is provided by health visitors, nursery nurses and bi-lingual workers, and additional community and family-led initiatives are also provided. Contact: Dr Michael Killoran Ross
Tel: 0141 201 4715
Email:michael.ross@gghb.scot.nhs.uk SUPPORTING PARENTS There is a range of programmes and initiatives designed to support parents, which ensure that the mental and emotional aspects of parenting form a key part of their work. One such example is the Aberlour Childcare Trust which runs a variety of programmes in various parts of Scotland aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of young children and their parents, and helping to identify effective interventions for supporting children. Contact: Celia Macintyre
Tel: 01786 895 022
Email:celia.macintyre@aberlour.org.uk |
Action in 2005
Supporting the implementation of the Scottish Executive's Integrated Early Years Strategy
Continuing to support the 'Starting Well' demonstration project, including targeting support at women from black and ethnic minority communities
Further development of appropriate parenting support programmes
Developing new initiatives aimed at improving prevention, identification and early intervention for post-natal depression
B. Children and Young People
Developing improved emotional, social and mental health and well-being amongst our children and young people and supporting them through the many transitions they face is vital to their health and development. Promoting mental and emotional health, and preventing and reducing mental health problems among parents, children and young people requires action at home, in schools, colleges, universities, local neighbourhoods and other settings.
A key priority for the National Programme is to support the Scottish Executive's wider work on children and young people, including the work being taken forward by the Child Health Support Group in implementing recommendations made in the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) report on
Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Scotland. Integrated work encompassing promotion, prevention and care is vital for success in this area.
Progress
SUPPORTING SCHOOLS In September 2004, the Health Promoting Schools Unit appointed a lead person, Jo Paterson, for supporting the development of emotional, mental health and well-being in schools. This work is funded by the National Programme to support primary and secondary schools across Scotland to address emotional, mental health and well-being as a key component in becoming a health-promoting school. Contact: Jo Paterson
Tel: 01382 443 684
Email:j.paterson@ltscotland.org.uk The National Programme is also supporting pilot projects in schools, including the development of 'The Place 2 Be' in ten primary schools across Edinburgh, which aims to support young children's emotional mental health and well-being in school. Contact: Genevieve Smyth
Tel: 0131 442 1007
Email:genevieve.smyth@theplace2be.org.uk West Lothian is piloting an integrated approach to children and young people's mental health, supported by the National Programme, which involves mental health link workers based in schools. Contact: Paula Huddart
Tel: 01506 771 873
Email:paula.huddart@wlt.scot.nhs.uk NATIONAL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT Anne Clarke was appointed director of this national project in May 2004 and a template to guide and support local integrated action for children and young people's mental health was launched in November 2004. Funded by the National Programme, the project has been established to support the implementation of the SNAP report across Scotland, with the focus on achieving an integrated approach to promotion, prevention, care and treatment for children and young people. Contact: Anne Clarke
Tel: 0141 221 9439
Email:anne.clarke@drs.glasgow.gov.uk As part of this national project, a range of national events was held in 2004 involving children and young people, and further initiatives on improving the involvement of children and young people are now being taken forward. Contact: Anne Clarke
Tel: 0141 221 9439
Email:anne.clarke@drs.glasgow.gov.uk |
Action in 2005
Developing and extending emotional, mental health and well-being across primary and secondary schools across Scotland as part of establishing health promoting schools
Supporting the implementation of an integrated framework for promotion, prevention and care for children and young people
Developing and supporting imaginative and effective ways of involving children and young people in mental health and well-being
C. Employment and Working Life
Improving the promotion of mental health and well-being where people work and reducing the time people are off work with emotional, stress-related and mental health problems are important actions for people of working age. In any one year, at least three out of every ten employees will be off work with a mental health problem, leading to significant financial costs to employers.
Being able to respond to mental health problems and mental illness in the workplace, working to eliminate employment discrimination on the grounds of mental ill-health, helping to improve the retention of staff who develop mental health problems, being able to support people back to, and into, employment and to achieving an improved work-life balance are all major mental health improvement goals.
Supporting people to be involved in meaningful activity and to gaining worthwhile employment is fundamental to good mental health and well-being. People who do not have meaningful work can be missing an important support for their mental health and well being. Furthermore, we know from research that people with mental health problems have the highest unemployment rates of all disability groups.
Progress
SCOTLAND'S HEALTH AT WORK Scotland's Health at Work (SHAW) is a national award programme which supports employers committed to improving the health and ultimately the performance of their workforce. More than 50 SHAW advisors are based in the 15 NHS areas across Scotland. The National Programme has funded SHAW to establish a mental health programme as a core part of its work. A national mental health development officer, Nina Goodlad, has been appointed to work with local SHAW teams and others to promote workplace mental health initiatives; encourage people with mental health problems to retain their jobs or return to work; and increase recruitment of people with mental health problems. The SHAW Commendation Award for Mental Health and Well-Being was launched in October 2004 and complements the existing bronze, silver and gold workplace awards. A training programme on employment and mental health is currently being piloted in a number of areas in Scotland and will be rolled out in 2005. Contact: Nina Goodlad
Tel: 01224 558 527
Email:nina.goodlad@health-promotions.com NHS HEALTH SCOTLAND'S WORKPLACE PROGRAMME NHS Health Scotland's Workplace Programme has published three major research projects on mental health and well-being in the workplace which have been a major influence on the workplace mental health agenda in Scotland. This includes addressing stress in the workplace through the 'Work Positive' programmes. Contact: Miriam O'Connor
Tel: 0131 536 5522
Email:Miriam.OConnor@health.scot.nhs.uk HEALTHY WORKING LIVES Launched in August 2004, the Scottish Executive's 'Healthy Working Lives' strategy aims to support improved health in the workplace. The strategy takes an integrated approach to employability, health and safety, occupational health and health promotion in the workplace. Improving mental health and well-being in the workplace is a core aim of 'Healthy Working Lives' as part of this integrated approach. Contact: Colin Cook
Tel: 0131 244 2448
Email:colin.cook@scotland.gsi.gov.uk JOB RETENTION PILOT IN FIFE Among the National Programme's exemplar projects is a job retention pilot in Fife. Started in October 2004, the programme will help people with mental health problems retain their jobs or find work. It has two main strands: the first is a confidential service to help people retain their jobs in the statutory sector through a case management approach. The second strand is a vocational rehabilitation service which aims to support people to get jobs in the statutory sector. Contact: Ken Laurie
Tel: 01592 643 355
Email:Ken.Laurie@nhs.net EMPLOYABILITY As part of the Scottish Executive's wider approach to employability (getting people into and sustaining work) the National Programme is providing support to help mainstream employability services and supports for people with mental health problems. This includes building on an early employability and mental health policy document and identifying examples of good practice. Contact:David Seers
Tel: 0141 242 5897
Email:david.seers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Contact: Mark Dunlop
Tel: 0131 244 5224
Email:mark.dunlop@scotland.gsi.gov.uk MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE TRAINING PROGRAMME The Mental Health in the Workplace Training Programme has been developed in partnership between the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health (SDC), Scotland's Health at Work (SHAW) and NHS Health Scotland, with funding from the European Equal Programme and the support of the Scottish Executive. Pilot training has already been successfully rolled out in Aberdeen, Fife and Glasgow with another programme underway in Tayside and plans for a further programme to be initiated in the Highlands. Funding is available until May 2005 by which time the training teams for each area should be well established and funded by local employers seeking to increase their mental health knowledge, both from a practical and legal perspective. Contact: Barbara Smith
Tel: 01224 558 741
Email:barbara.smith@health-promotions.com |
Action in 2005
Disseminating further evidence of what helps to improve mental health and well-being in the workplace
Supporting employers through the SHAW award scheme to attain the SHAW commendation award on mental health and well-being in the workplace
National rollout of the SHAW, SDCMH and NHS Health Scotland's 'Mental Health in the Workplace' training programme
Disseminating early findings of the job retention pilot in Fife
Ensuring that mental health and well-being remains a core element of the 'Healthy Working Lives' strategy
Supporting the employability framework in its aim of providing support for people to secure and sustain work, including those with mental health problems
D. Improving Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life
Older adulthood can be a time of considerable change, some positive - more leisure time, travel opportunities, and some negative - loss of work, bereavement, lower income, reduced social contacts, increased social isolation, poorer health, ageism, fear of violence and increased risk of depression.
Instead of assuming that old age is inevitably linked with failing health, poverty and dependency, the aim of public, private and voluntary action should be to support older people to make an active contribution for as long as they wish (or are able) and to support their continuing connectedness with their families, friends, neighbourhoods and communities.
Action is needed both in local communities and in residential and nursing home settings to support actions that enable older people to achieve a life that is satisfying and rewarding. Promoting mental health and well-being, preventing mental ill-health and responding early in dealing with mental health problems in later life is therefore an important area for action.
Progress
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN LATER LIFE NATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME NHS Health Scotland's 'Health in Later Life' programme with financial support from the National Programme and support from the Scottish Executive's Older People's Unit, is taking forward a collaborative programme of action to improve mental health in later life. A national 'Mental Health in Later Life' steering group meets regularly to support the delivery of this collaborative programme which includes: Promoting, sharing and learning between older people, their carers, practitioners, academics and policy-makers A research project, 'Older women and domestic violence in Scotland', which highlights the issue of domestic violence among older women The development of a Small Project Awards Scheme to enable groups or local initiatives to support the development of positive mental health and well-being in later life
Contact: Shirley Mitchell
Tel: 0131 536 5500
Email:shirley.mitchell@health.scot.nhs.uk |
Action in 2005
Continuing to share findings from the national support programme and associated research
Developing recommendations for action in dealing with domestic violence among older women
Continuing to support a range of projects across Scotland through the Small Project Award Scheme and providing information on progress
Producing a range of helpful resources to help organisations and agencies respond to the mental health needs of older people
Exploring additional ways of highlighting and developing further work in this field
E. Improving Community Mental Health and Well-Being
A whole community response is required to maximise the mental health potential of all community members. This will involve the development of mentally healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, improving access to services and supports (particularly for marginalised and disadvantaged groups, including people from black and minority ethnic communities), strengthening community action, supporting community-led mental health initiatives, developing and consolidating local community partnerships and enhancing the role and contribution of community development and community education and learning.
Being able to provide the basic building blocks of a good quality of life in local communities is an essential part of improving mental health and well-being. This involves the provision of good quality housing, quality built environments, environmental policies that have communities' well-being at the core of their actions, good transport infrastructure, safe parks, recreational areas and facilities, cultural activities, play areas, clean streets and responsive policing to tackle speeding and drug dealing.
Action must also be concentrated on building improved connectedness in local communities, on supporting and encouraging greater involvement of local communities, and on supporting and enabling local communities to support themselves.
Progress
BUILDING COMMUNITY WELL-BEING Following the publication of the report, 'Building Community Well-Being', in June 2003, four areas - East Renfrewshire New Community Schools Cluster, Badenoch and Strathspey in Highland, the East End of Glasgow and West Lothian - are taking forward local work on improving community mental health and well-being and, with support funding from the National Programme, building on the findings of the report. Contact: Janice Scouller (Greater Glasgow Health Board)
Tel: 0141 201 4783
Email:janice.scouller@gghb.scot.nhs.uk Contact: Jeannie MacKenzie (East Renfrewshire Council)
Tel: 0141 638 6538
Email:mackenziej4@ea.e-renfrew.sch.uk Contact: John Richards (Highland Council)
Tel: 01479 810251
Email:john.richards@highland.gov.uk Contact: Kevin Hurst (West Lothian Council)
Tel: 01506 777 327
Email:kevin.hurst@westlothian.gov.uk ABERDEEN FOYER The Aberdeen Foyer's project, 'Sorted, not Screwed Up', is being funded to take forward work relating to the mental health needs of young people in the communities of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. This work focuses on a key part of the health improvement challenge in taking health improvement work forward in local communities. Contact: Jamie Paterson
Tel: 01224 212 924
Email:jamiep@aberdeenfoyer.com NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE FOR ETHNIC MINORITY HEALTH The National Programme is funding the National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health (NRCEMH) to take forward a programme of work to help support improved promotion and prevention of mental health issues among the black and ethnic minority communities across Scotland. A National Programme manager, Salma Siddique, has been appointed to lead and co-ordinate the work. A Scottish trans-cultural mental health network is being established and a series of seminars aimed at highlighting black and ethnic minority health issues have been held throughout Scotland. Contact: Salma Siddique
Tel: 0141 300 1010
Email:salma.siddique@health.scot.nhs.uk LGBT COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS During the past year the National Programme has supported the needs of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) people through articles in
Well? magazine, a contribution towards the ongoing Scottish Transgender Survey and providing places to LGBT organisations on the ASIST suicide prevention training. A LGBT Mental Health Research and Information Working Group has recently been established as part of the Health Department's LGBT Health Discussion Forum to identify key challenges and priorities in improving LGBT people's mental health and well-being and ensuring mental health services are LGBT accessible and appropriate. Representatives from local NHS mental health services, the 'Choose Life' initiative and LGBT organisations identified a range of actions, including ways of sharing good LGBT mental health practice, gathering and disseminating existing research, and establishing better links between acute services and the LGBT community. Contact: Alastair Pringle
Tel: 0141 204 0746
Email:alastair@lgbthealthscotland.org.uk ARTS, CULTURE AND MENTAL HEALTH The National Programme is providing support funding to the Scottish Arts Council for an arts and mental health initiative. A national arts and mental health worker has been appointed to help develop the programme. The aim is to raise awareness of mental health issues through arts and culture activities and events, and support people's recovery from mental ill-health through engaging with the arts. Contact: Maggie Maxwell
Tel: 0131 226 6051
Email:maggie.maxwell@scottisharts.org.uk VOLUNTEERING FOR MENTAL HEALTH Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) is being funded by the National Programme to help encourage greater awareness of the benefits of volunteering for improving mental health and well-being, and supporting improved opportunities for people with mental health problems to become volunteers. Contact: Muriel Lockerbie
Tel: 01786 479 593
Email:muriel.lockerbie@vds.org.uk MONEY ADVICE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING In January 2004, the Scottish Executive announced a programme of demonstration projects on money advice. These look at how money and debt advice services could be better provided to a range of vulnerable groups of people, including those with mental health problems. Supported by the National Programme, North Lanarkshire Council is instigating this project in conjunction with the Scottish Association for Mental Health. The project will look at how a wide range of service providers within North Lanarkshire can work together to provide money advice services, which meet the specific needs of those with mental ill-health. Contact: Gus Ferguson
Tel: 01698 332 560
Email:fergusong@northlan.gov.uk |
Action in 2005
Sharing the learning that is emerging from the 'Building Community Well-Being' projects
Launching the Scottish trans-cultural mental health network and identifying ways in which mental health and well-being in ethnic minority communities in Scotland can be improved
Encouraging action in local areas to support LGBT mental health and well-being
Establishing the arts and culture mental health programme within the Scottish Arts Council
Achieving a year-on-year rise in the number of people becoming volunteers (including those with mental health problems)
Establishing the money advice demonstration project in North Lanarkshire
Continuing to support work across the Scottish Executive, in particular with Communities Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and CoSLA.
Mainstreaming of work on improving mental health and well-being within local communities
F. Improving Local Services
Mental health services and other health and social care services provided by the NHS, local government, and the voluntary and private sectors have a role to play in improving mental health and well-being. As well as providing support, care and treatment, services need to be able to respond to people's housing, employment, leisure, cultural and wider social needs to help enhance their capacity to engage with and sustain the social connections and supports which they value. Supporting people to recover their mental health is an important role for services to perform.
Supporting services to promote mental health, prevent mental ill-health and support recovery is a key priority area for the National Programme.
Progress
THE MENTAL HEALTH (CARE AND TREATMENT) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2003 The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 comes into force in 2005. Sections 25-27 of the new Act lay a duty on local authorities (and their agency partners, including health boards) to provide services for people with a mental illness that are designed to promote their well-being and social development. These include: social, cultural and recreational activities training for people who are over school age assistance for people over school age in obtaining and sustaining employment
This section of the Act is extremely important as it helps ensure that people with a mental illness are given the appropriate opportunities to engage in mainstream and specialist training. It also helps people achieve their social, training and employment aspirations. The National Programme is working to identify how local authorities and their partner agencies can support the implementation of these sections of the Act. This will involve working across a number of local authority areas of responsibility. Contact: Fiona Tyrrell
Tel: 0131 244 2599
Email:fiona.tyrrell@scotland.gsi.gov.uk DOING WELL BY PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION The National Programme is supporting the Scottish Executive's Centre for Change and Innovation (CCI) and its 'Doing Well By People with Depression' programme. The work aims to improve access to appropriate services for people suffering from depression. Seven NHS boards are involved and a national network to share national information and learning has been established. The aim is to achieve improvements in services. National Programme funding is helping to support additional work on raising public awareness and promoting access to self-help tools and techniques. Contact: Shona Cowan
Tel: 0131 244 5137
Email:shona.cowan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION IN PRIMARY CARE Community Health Partnerships encourage close and integrated working between health services at primary care level, local authority services and the voluntary sector. Community Health Partnerships have a key role to play in promoting good mental health in preventing mental illness and its effects at primary care level. Contact: Janet McVea
Tel: 0131 244 2128
Email:janet.mcvea@scotland.gsi.gov.uk |
Action in 2005
Identifying effective ways to support the implementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
Encouraging integrated and multi-level approaches to improve local responses to depression covering promotion, awareness raising, prevention, self-help activities and improved service responses
Providing helpful guidance resources and support to those working at primary care level on mental health promotion and prevention
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