A partnership of 17 leading Scottish mental health organisations is hosting a special online Hustings event to ensure that mental health is at the top of the political agenda ahead of the Scottish elections in May.
Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership will host the online Mental Health Hustings event on Monday 9th March between 1pm and 2.30pm.
The Hustings event will be an opportunity to hear Scotland’s political leaders discuss mental health, along with answering questions from attendees during a time when mental health has never mattered more.
Political leaders will detail their vision for the nation’s mental health and their plans to reform society to improve wellbeing for all.
Speakers will come from five Scottish political parties:
- SNP – Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing
- Conservatives – Brian Whittle MSP, Spokesperson on Mental Wellbeing
- Labour – Paul Sweeney MSP, Spokesperson on Mental Health
- Greens – Gillian Mackay MSP, Party Co-Leader and Spokesperson on Health and Social Care
- Lib Dems – Councillor Sally Pattle, Spokesperson on Mental Health
The Mental Health Hustings is a chance for people to engage with those responsible for shaping Scotland’s future.
Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership announced its manifesto late last year, ‘Scotland’s Mental Health: It’s Time For Action’, which presses the Scottish Government to address the current crisis and transform the country’s mental health in the longer term.
The manifesto states that mental health services are struggling to cope with an unprecedented increase in demand, with no corresponding increase in funding or resource, and a burnt-out workforce that is collectively creating a spike in waiting lists for support and treatment.
It has also expressed the need for commitment around increasing resources for early intervention and preventing, along with a choice of support, care and treatment in the right place and at the right time.
Other recommendations revolve around the Partnership’s 3Ps framework – Promote, Prevent and Provide – to tackle the mental health emergency.
Gordon Johnson, Policy Lead for Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership, said: “Mental health really has never mattered more. There is a mental health emergency in Scotland, and we need bold and decisive action to ensure that this crisis is addressed.
“The Hustings is an opportunity for people to have their voice heard – whether you’re a person with lived experience, working in mental health, a campaigner or someone who cares about Scotland’s future.
“Scotland needs radical change. That starts will voices in the room. We look forward to this conversation between attendees and speakers at the Hustings, and we will work hard to ensure that mental health is at the top of the political agenda ahead of this election and beyond.”
Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership (SMHP) is made up of seventeen (17) professional bodies and mental health third sector organisations.
Our members represent, among others, those with lived experience, providers, clinical professionals, carers, community support networks and the wider third sector. Each organisation contributes its direct experience and unique perspective to create an informed collective voice on mental health.
The Partnership was developed out of a collective desire to offer new perspectives and a progressive vision for mental health in Scotland. It is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of people across Scotland and, in line with the Christie Commission recommendations, promote the prevention of mental health issues and early intervention where problems do arise.
Further details can be found on our website: www.smhp.scot.
The organisations include:
- Bipolar Scotland
- The British Psychological Society
- Change Mental Health
- Mental Health Foundation
- Mental Health Nursing Forum
- Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
- Penumbra Mental Health
- Royal College of GPs Scotland
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland
- Samaritans Scotland
- Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH)
- Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
- Scottish Recovery Network
- See Me
- UK Council for Psychotherapy
- VOX Scotland