Next week (11-17 May) marks Mental Health Awareness Week 2026. Led by the Mental Health Foundation, it is focused on the theme “Take Action”, looking at what proactive steps individuals can take to promote good mental health.
This is a major, nation-wide initiative involving schools, workplaces, and communities.
The week also marks the first few days for our newly elected MSPs, and, as a collection of organisations that support vulnerable children and young people, we urge them to make mental health a key priority.
Parity of esteem is vital, ensuring mental health needs are addressed with the same urgency as physical ones. Placing mental health on an equal footing with physical health will ensure equal access to funding and quality of care. While recognised in policy, Scotland still fails to fully achieve this.
Our mental health services frequently face lower funding relative to their disease burden, and if unaddressed, those children and young people with mental health problems will carry this into adulthood.
The costs of failing to address mental health problems are well-established. For example, those affected are more likely to be unemployed, homeless, get caught up in the criminal justice system, or be in extremely costly long-term care.
Our new MSPs have an incredible responsibility, and we urge them to make tackling the mental health emergency their number one priority.
PUBLIC Health Scotland has published the latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) report, which presents changes on drug trends, harms and use of services in Scotland to inform immediate and short-term actions that reduce drug harms.
DEAF AWARENESS WEEK: Family share their story to highlight early signs of deafness
A Stirling family is sharing their experience of childhood hearing loss to highlight the early signs of deafness and show how vital it is for deaf children to receive the right support, at the right time.
Keiran and Mya Meiklejohn, who live with their three children, are supporting the National Deaf Children’s Society’s campaign throughout Deaf Awareness Week (4–10 May), which focuses on helping families and professionals recognise the signs of deafness early and access vital support.
Keiran has moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss himself, but says his experience growing up, when his deafness was identified late and support was limited, has been very different from that of his children.
“Looking back, I realise there were huge gaps in what I experienced as a child,” says Keiran. “I was there, but I wasn’t really hearing or taking part. We didn’t want that for our children.”
Two of the couple’s children are deaf. Their son Finlay, aged nine, has mild hearing loss in one ear, and their daughter Hollie, aged six, has mild to moderate bilateral hearing loss across the speech range. Both passed their newborn hearing screening, but their hearing loss was identified later through follow-up screening carried out by NHS Forth Valley.
Because of Keiran’s own hearing loss, the family was more aware of what to look out for, but the process was still daunting.
“As a parent, you’re always asking yourself whether something is just a phase or something you should act on,” says Keiran. “Having clear information about the signs of deafness made all the difference in helping us feel confident taking the next steps.”
Finlay’s hearing loss is monitored with support at school, including small adjustments when needed. Hollie hearing loss was supported early with hearing technology, and she received hearing aids around the time she started nursery.
“I find the word ‘mild’ misleading,” Keiran says. “It can sound like it doesn’t really matter but the impact can be huge without the right support. Getting help early has changed everything for Hollie.”
Hollie now wears her hearing aids confidently, choosing the colour of her ear moulds herself and proudly explains to classmates why she wears them. She is supported by a Teacher of the Deaf, who provide deaf children and their families with specialist support, as well as speech and language therapy, and her parents say she is thriving both socially and academically.
The family believe early support and positive representation have been key.
“Hearing loss is just part of our everyday life,” says Keiran. “We talk openly, we adapt how we communicate, and our children advocate for themselves. That confidence comes from being supported early and understood.”
Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event celebrating British deaf culture, community and history, while raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss. This year the National Deaf Children’s Society is empowering families and professionals with clear, accessible information and practical guidance.
The charity says the family’s experience highlights why early awareness is so important. Deafness can affect children in different ways, and the signs aren’t always obvious or consistent. Some children may struggle in noisy environments, miss speech, rely on watching others closely, or become tired or withdrawn – signs that can easily be misunderstood or overlooked.
During Deaf Awareness Week, the charity is sharing practical guidance, real family experiences and expert advice to help reduce anxiety for families who may be noticing changes and waiting for answers.
As part of the campaign, the charity is also releasing a five‑part video series by Sarah Adedeji, a deaf audiologist and content creator. The videos explain how to spot early signs of deafness, what happens at audiology appointments, and how families can feel more confident while waiting for support.
Michael Heggie, head of policy and influencing in Scotland at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Across Scotland, families often tell us they noticed small changes in their children but weren’t sure what they were seeing or whether it was something to act on. Hearing loss isn’t always obvious, and labels like ‘mild’ can give a false sense of reassurance.
“Deaf Awareness Week is about making those early signs easier to recognise and letting families know they’re not on their own. With clear information, the right support and early identification, deaf children can grow up confident, resilient and able to communicate fully.”
Families across Scotland are encouraged to take part in Deaf Awareness Week by ordering free deaf awareness resources, sharing information with nurseries and schools, and getting involved in local community events aimed at reducing isolation and building understanding.
Three million UK households are being forced to skip meals and cut family visits according to new research from Which? that reveals the human impact of cost of living pressures and collapsing consumer confidence.
Which?’s latest Consumer Insight Tracker shows that households across the country are having to take more and more drastic measures to mitigate rising costs.
In the month to 10 April, Which? found consumer confidence fell to -62 – the lowest level since the height of the cost of living crisis in 2022 (-70). This decline reflects a widespread pessimism as the vast majority of UK adults (71%) think the UK economy will worsen over the next 12 months, while fewer than one in ten (9%) think it will improve.
Which? found an overwhelming majority of UK adults (85%) are now worried about food prices – up from 83 per cent in February. This concern is forcing lifestyle changes as two thirds (67%) of households have made at least one adjustment to their shopping or eating habits in the last month to reduce how much they spend on food.
The most common adjustments are buying cheaper products (43%), buying more supermarket own budget-range items (37%), and buying extra items when on promotion (31%).
Concerningly, Which? found one in seven (15%) UK households reported going without some foods and one in ten – equivalent to three million households – are now skipping meals to keep the cost of their weekly shop down.
Food is not the only major concern for households, Which? found eight in ten (83%) UK adults are worried about fuel prices – this figure has shot up from 71 per cent in February of this year. Over two thirds (69%) have made adjustments to their driving habits to battle costs, with knock-on effects on their social and family lives.
Most common adjustments include making fewer leisure trips over the last month (33%), and planning journeys more carefully (23%). However, about one in eight said they had visited friends and family less (13%).
This increase in concern over everyday essentials reflects how financial difficulty has risen rapidly throughout 2026. Consumer sentiment was already bad prior to the Middle East conflict, but has fallen sharply in the last two months.
In the month to 10 April, over half (53%), or an estimated 15 million UK households, made adjustments to cover essential spending, such as cutting back on essentials (29%), using savings (25%), selling possessions (9%), or borrowing from friends or family (9%).
Worryingly, 7.7% of UK households missed a house bill, loan, or credit card payment. The average rate of missed payments over the last three months was 7.5%, up significantly from 5.7% at the end of last year. If this trend continues, missed payments will reach levels seen during the peak of the cost-of-living crisis over the next few months.
These findings intensify pressure on the government to find interventions that will ease household costs, improve consumer confidence and restore faith in markets. Businesses must also do everything possible to support their customers and ensure they are offering genuine value for money as millions of households struggle to cover the basics.
With many households now reaching a breaking point, Which? is calling for urgent policy interventions outlined in a manifesto launched in Parliament this week to tackle unfair rip-offs and improve access to essentials.
The manifesto includes a priority call to reform the Healthy Start scheme, a vital nutritional safety net for low-income families during pregnancy and early childhood. Which? is warning that its value has failed to keep pace with food inflation and is urging the government to uprate payments, expand eligibility to all families on Universal Credit, and encourage supermarket support to ensure those struggling most can afford a healthy diet.
As financial difficulty continues to rise, anyone struggling to afford essential payments such as housing, bills or credit cards should speak to their provider immediately for support.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Our latest research highlights the deepening strain not only on household finances, but also on people’s physical and social wellbeing as cost of living pressures bite.
“Many are already making difficult choices, such as skipping meals. Without meaningful interventions the number of people taking drastic measures is likely to increase.
“We need to see urgent action, as set out in our Cost of Living Manifesto, to address these costs and help restore confidence before even more households are pushed into serious financial difficulty.”
The Scottish Coalition On Tobacco (SCOT) is celebrating the UK Government’s landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which was introduced with a four nations approach on 5 November 2024, having received Royal Assent to become law this week (Wednesday 29 April).
The new law means that from 1 January 2027 it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. It will also bring in other major public health driven measures such as a ban on the sale of nicotine pouches to under 18s and outlaw the advertising and sponsorship of vapes and other recreational nicotine products.
The Scottish Coalition On Tobacco, an alliance of 19 health advocacy charities, royal colleges, pharmacy and medical associations convened by ASH Scotland, is welcoming the new law as a major step towards Scotland becoming a tobacco-free nation.
We are delighted that strong measures in the Tobacco & Vapes Act will become reality.
Our CEO said “This is a significant step towards eradicating the damage inflicted by profit-centred corporations on people’s lives & tackling advertisement of heath harming nicotine products” pic.twitter.com/9ngRV8XnTv
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland and Chair of SCOT, said: “With tobacco continuing to be the biggest preventable killer of people in Scotland, causing nearly 9,000 deaths each year, we are delighted that strong measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Act will become reality as they can be truly transformative and must be implemented without delay.
“Everyone should have the right to breathe clean air, and this is a significant step towards eradicating the damage being inflicted by profit-centred multi-national corporations on people’s lives, especially in our poorest communities, and tackling the advertising and promotions of addictive, heath harming recreational nicotine products such as vapes and nicotine pouches.”
Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “This is a true landmark moment for public health.
“For everyone who has lost someone to a smoking related heart attack or stroke, for every clinician who has seen the toll of tobacco at the bedside, and for every young person who will now grow up free from the harms of smoking – we celebrate this historic achievement that will save lives for generations to come.”
Professor Steve Turner, President of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Act has the exact type of bold ambition and long‑term thinking that makes meaningful change for children and young people. This will help to improve child health outcomes and narrow the unacceptable health inequalities gap.
“Paediatricians are thrilled to have supported this important piece of legislation, which will reduce the unacceptable burden that tobacco and vaping places on today’s youth, and also protect future generations from the harms of nicotine addiction. I celebrate this landmark moment for child health. This is a clear signal that the wellbeing of children and young people can and should come first.”
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said: “This landmark legislation means a smoke free future across the UK and the tobacco industry will no longer be able to wreak havoc on the lungs of the next generation. The Act also builds on restrictions concerning where vapes, cigarettes, and heated tobacco products can be used which we welcome.
“The next Scottish Government needs to outline how the bill will be implemented. It must also make sure existing smokers aren’t left behind by providing essential smoking cessation support, especially in areas of deprivation where smoking rates are highest. We are looking forward to working with new MSPs to go further to protect public health and hold the tobacco industry to account.”
Adam Osprey, Head of Policy at Community Pharmacy Scotland, said: “Community pharmacy teams contribute to the goal of a smoke-free Scotland by supporting tens of thousands of quit attempts each year, and have done for over 15 years.
“These teams have been sharing in more recent times their concern over the changing patterns in nicotine use, whether that be the rise in popularity of vapes and pouches. On behalf of our members, we are delighted that the Bill has passed and received Royal Assent, as its bold commitments to action provide the preventative measures that are required to complement the well-established cessation offering in Scotland”.
Professor Mark Strachan, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: “We are extremely pleased that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which we supported consistently from the beginning of this process – has now received Royal Assent.
“This truly is a historic moment in the UK which offers the opportunity for all future generations of young people to be protected from the harms of smoking as we strive for a smoke-free society. The stricter regulation of vapes, especially in relation to young people, is also important.
“As we celebrate this major milestone in public health policy and the progress that has been made over the last few decades, we also remember that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK and we will continue to work with others to ensure that all existing smokers are regularly offered and provided with access to the highest quality cessation support and that this support is backed up with appropriate investment.”
Training tackles harmful assumptions about disability and ensures staff make practical, meaningful adjustments for the people they serve
Thousands of DWP healthcare professionals completed Oliver McGowan training to better support autistic people and those with learning disabilities as they navigate the benefits system.
Marking Autism Awareness Month, the milestone forms part of the Government’s broader commitment to putting disabled people at its heart.
Over 4,000 DWP healthcare professionals have completed part of training designed to transform how the government supports autistic people and those with learning disabilities, as Autism Awareness Month draws to a close.
The training is named after Oliver McGowan, a young man with autism and a learning disability who died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic medication against his and his family’s wishes. It was established following a campaign by his family to ensure that staff working with autistic people and those with learning disabilities have the knowledge and skills to support them safely.
The accomplishment is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to putting disabled people at the heart of everything it does.
The training tackles “diagnostic overshadowing” – where symptoms are wrongly attributed to a person’s disability rather than investigated properly – ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.
It also gives staff practical tools to make meaningful reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities and autism as they navigate the benefits system. These include:
More time in assessments, reducing anxiety and allowing people to communicate clearly and confidently.
Simpler, clearer communications from Jobcentres, making information accessible to people who may find complex language difficult to process.
Sensory-aware Jobcentre environments, ensuring spaces feel safe and manageable for people who may find busy or loud environments overwhelming.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said: Oliver McGowan’s story is a powerful reminder of why services must understand the people they serve.
“This training is part of how we achieve that, equipping our staff to treat every autistic person and everyone with a learning disability as an individual, and to provide support that genuinely works for them.
“We’re determined to break down barriers for disabled people, and to put autistic people and those with learning disabilities at the very heart of our decisions and direction.
“I pay tribute to the hard and brave work of the McGowan family in Oliver’s memory.”
This milestone is part of the Government’s wider commitment to ensuring disabled people’s voices and lived experience shape policy.
The Independent Disability Advisory Panel – ten experts with lived experience of disability and long-term health conditions – have been appointed to advise on the design and delivery of health and disability policy.
Clinical Author at DWP: “Hearing directly from people with lived experience made this training memorable and practical. It reinforced that autism and learning disability affect people in very different ways, and that taking time to listen- to the individual, and to those who know them best – makes a real difference.
“These principles are now reflected in the guidance I develop for health professionals carrying out assessments on behalf of across DWP.
“I believe this training helps support safer, more person-centred assessments and helps us get it right for autistic people and people with a learning disability.”
The training is one part of wider support the Department is investing into better support people with autism.
Earlier this year, DWP funded Acas to deliver free neurodivergence masterclasses for small and medium-sized employers – with more than 1,800 employer representatives attended, building the knowledge and confidence to recruit and support neurodivergent staff effectively.
Alongside this, the Government also legislated to give benefit claimants the legal right to try work without the immediate risk of losing their benefits – a significant and practical change for neurodivergent people navigating the employment system.
Separately, an expert academic panel has examined the specific barriers neurodivergent people face in the workplace, with its recommendations under active consideration.
Autism Awareness Month serves as an important moment to reflect on progress, and to reaffirm this Government’s determination to ensure autistic people and those with learning disabilities are supported, heard, and treated with the respect they deserve.
Jon Sparkes, OBE, Chief Executive of learning disability Mencap, said: “Increasing benefit assessors’ understanding of learning disability is an important step towards a more accessible and inclusive benefits system. The training they’ve received has the potential to make a real difference in helping them to communicate more clearly, recognise individual needs and make reasonable adjustments.
“People with a learning disability need to be properly understood and receive the level of support that’s right for them to navigate the benefits assessment process.
“This training is already making a difference in health and social care teams, and we hope it will now make another public service more accessible to people with a learning disability so that they can live their lives to the full.”
The Oliver McGowan Training is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death in 2016 was found to be potentially avoidable. His mother Paula McGowan OBE campaigned for it to become law under the Health and Care Act 2022.
New research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day
The Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme hits more Edinburgh schools, as new research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day
Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children currently eat their recommended five-a-day, according to new research
Ambition to help one million school children across the UK access free fruit and vegetables through Tesco school and community programmes by July 2029
Tesco invites children to create fun fruit & veg-packed recipes, with winning dish served in over 1,500 schools to mark expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme
To encourage children to be more adventurous with fruit & veg, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge. To find out more and how to enter, visit www.tescoplc.com/fruitandvegchallenge
Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day, with 8.70% of parents saying their child only eats one piece of fruit and veg per day, according to new research from Tesco.
But the findings also show what does work when it comes to getting five a day into kids with more than half (73.91%) of Edinburgh parents and carers say their child is more likely to eat fruit and veg when they can choose it themselves, and making food fun or visually creative encourages their children to try more.
So, to help more children get more of their five-a-day and the nutritious food they need to learn, Tesco is doubling its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme from September, with the aim of doubling the programme again the following year. And the results to date speak for themselves, with 94% of teachers nationwide reporting improved behaviour among pupils taking part.
The new research further highlights why schemes like Free Fruit & Veg for Schools matter. Children tend to stick to familiar favourites, with fruit far more common than vegetables in their diets, and many parents say repeated refusal shapes what they buy at home. Just over half of Edinburgh parents (56.52%) say they have stopped buying or serving certain fruit or vegetables after their child repeatedly refused them. By contrast, pupils taking part in Free Fruit & Veg for Schools have collectively sampled more than 100 different varieties of fruit and vegetables, helping to broaden tastes and encourage healthier choices.
To encourage and inspire children to be more adventurous with fruit and veg and to celebrate the expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge**.
The competition invites children to dream up their own fruit and veg-packed dish, with the winning recipe shared on menus across the UK and in Tesco’s programme. The challenge is supported and judged by JLS star turned farmer JB Gill, and his son Ace, alongside a panel of experts and nutritionists.
Along with its Fruit & Veg Grants and Free Fruit for Kids in its stores, Tesco aims to support thousands more local children in getting more of the good stuff. Customers will be able to help grow the programme with Tesco donating every time customers buy fruit and veg at Tesco up until 24 May.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: <> during the Tesco Giant Fruit And Veg Challenge on April 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Tesco)
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “We’ve set out an ambition to help one million children get free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, supporting the development of healthy habits.
“Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has already made, so we’re delighted to be able to double the number of schools receiving support from September.”
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “A significant number of children in the UK are growing up with diets that don’t support their health.
“Early food experiences matter, as they can help to shape children’s confidence, habits and long‑term health outcomes.
“By helping children enjoy and regularly eat fruit and vegetables from a young age, programmes like Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools can help to make a lasting difference to diet and health now and in the future.”
For more information and to enter the Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, visit:
It’s a moment to celebrate something simple but powerful, walking as part of everyday life! Whether it’s getting to work, heading to the shops or just getting outside, walking is one of the easiest ways to move more.
At Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, we’re working to make walking possible for more people across Scotland by supporting the development of safer, more accessible routes and connections.
Walking benefits our health and our world. When routes are designed for everyone, more people can choose to walk for everyday journeys.
Looking for somewhere to start?
Explore some great walking routes on the National Cycle Network:
