Local organisations have put together a booklet listing mental health & wellbeing support services in North Edinburgh (see below).
If you need support call the new Community Wellbeing Helpline on 0131 332 8773.
Advice for those anxious about next steps
The Scottish Government’s Principal Medical Officer has encouraged people to prioritise their mental health, as he acknowledged that changes to lockdown measures can bring new challenges for many.
Research shows that although the vast majority continue to support a slow and gradual lifting of restrictions (81 per cent), at least seven in ten people in Scotland are feeling anxious or concerned about other people not following guidelines, as restrictions ease1.
Consultant Psychiatrist Dr John Mitchell explained that these concerns are normal and shared by everyone to differing degrees – as well as offering advice on how to deal with anxiety as the nation adjusts to increased freedoms.
Suggestions include:
Mentally preparing yourself to do things that you are worried about can also help, rehearsing in your mind the steps you can take to reduce infection risk, such paying contactlessly, staying at a safe two metre distance from others, good hand hygiene, and also using face coverings on public transport which is now required.
The Clear Your Head website – clearyourhead.scot – provides a range of tips to help people look after their mental health during these times, signposting helplines for those who need to talk to someone, including NHS24, Breathing Space, SAMH and the Samaritans.
Principal Medical Officer and Consultant Psychiatrist Dr John Mitchell said: “As restrictions lift, many of us may be struggling with our feelings and emotions, feeling anxious or frustrated for what seems like no reason.
We may have gotten used to the restrictions, changing how we live, work and interact, and whilst we might expect everyone will be grateful for increased freedoms, many are really anxious about the next steps. It is important that we face our fears and do not avoid them.
“The enjoyment we might get from moving more freely outside, travelling and meeting friends and family is tempered when we are worried about the spread of infection. By sticking to the rules during the gradual lifting of restrictions, we can be confident that risk won’t rise. Less virus around us can be matched with less restriction.
“Although there are practical things we can do to help ourselves cope over the coming weeks, remember that help is available if needed. We’ve never had to deal with a situation like this before, so be kind to yourself and to others, and reach out if you need to talk to someone. Support is there.”
For practical tips, visit clearyourhead.scot.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading independent and third sector providers of children’s services, has warned of a “perfect storm” of a mental health crisis coupled with further cuts to some services following the Coronavirus pandemic.
It has urged the Scottish Government to invest significantly in mental health services to address this, warning of an overwhelming demand on services, and urged parents and young people to seek support if they need it.
The call comes as latest waiting time figures from Public Health Scotland, covering the period January to March 2020 (just as the lockdown came into force), show that 4,093 children and young people started treatment at specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in this period.
Of this number under two-thirds (65.1 per cent) received this treatment within the Scottish Government’s 18-week waiting time target from referral to treatment.
This was lower than the previous quarter (66.4 per cent) and significantly lower than the same period last year (73.6 per cent), meaning that just over a third are not being seen within the waiting time target.
All bar the island health boards failed to meet the Scottish Government 18-week waiting time target for children and young people to receive treatment from CAMHS. This target should be delivered for at least 90 per cent of patients.
Individual health boards failing to meet this target are: NHS Borders (89.8 per cent), NHS Fife (76.0 per cent), NHS Ayrshire & Arran (71.4 per cent), NHS Grampian (86.0 per cent), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (58.8 per cent), NHS Highland (84.8 per cent), NHS Lanarkshire (57.7 per cent), NHS Lothian (54.6 per cent), NHS Tayside (65.0 per cent), NHS Dumfries & Galloway (87.2 per cent) and NHS Forth Valley (54.2 per cent).
The coalition has warned of a significant demand on services once the lockdown ends as subsequent to these figures there has been a fall in the number of children being referred for specialist help during lockdown, which could have a devastating impact on their mental health.
It warned that the absence of support from teachers and other care professionals could result in early warning signs being missed and lead to a surge in demand for services once the lockdown ends. Self-isolation and social distancing are already having an impact on young people struggling with issues such as anxiety and depression.
A recent report by Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament, called Lockdown Lowdown, found almost two-fifths of young people felt moderately or extremely concerned about their own mental wellbeing: –
https://youngscot.net/news-database/lockdownlowdown-results
And a separate report from YouthLink Scotland showed the youth-work sector was facing a mental health crisis due to projected budget cut of £20.5 million this year – https://www.youthlinkscotland.org/news/may-2020/survey-report-reveals-20m-funding-hit-for-sector-as-youth-mental-health-crisis-looms/
Although the coalition welcomes the announcement made by the First Minister (27 February) to invest £3.8 million in developing mental health services to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, it fears that not enough will be done to safeguard the mental health of our vulnerable children.
A spokesperson of the SCSC commented: “These latest waiting time figures highlight that nearly all of Scotland’s health boards are failing to meet the Scottish Government waiting time target for treatment.
“Along with cuts in services this points to a ‘perfect storm’ of a mental health crisis as we come out of lockdown, coupled with further cuts in services.
“While referrals have dropped during lockdown and children are not accessing support, we are storing up immense problems for the future as these same under-pressure services face being overwhelmed due to a greatly increased demand.
“Children are not currently getting access to social services and are not going to school or reporting their experiences. Taking them to see the GP may currently be considered low priority.
“It is important to stress that these services are still available and the Scottish Government must look to support these young people as we come out of lockdown by investing significantly in services.”
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 22 May):
Good afternoon. I’m joined today by Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland and Professor Jason Leitch, our National Clinical Director. I want to start – as I always do – by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to COVID-19 in Scotland.
As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,969 positive cases confirmed – which is an increase of 113 from yesterday.
A total of 1,257 patients are in hospital with COVID-19 – 874 of them have been confirmed as having Covid, and 383 who are suspected of having it. That represents a total decrease of 61 from yesterday and that includes a decrease of 35 in the number of confirmed cases.
A total of 50 people last night were in intensive care with either confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That is a decrease of one since yesterday.
I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,508 patients who had tested positive and been hospitalised with the virus have been able to leave hospital. Which is, of course, very good news.
And unfortunately though I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 24 deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test as having COVID-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,245.
Let me emphasise once again that these numbers are not simply statistics. They represent individuals who are being mourned by friends, family and loved ones. I want to send my deepest and heartfelt condolences to everyone who has suffered a loss to this virus.
I also want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers for the extraordinary, incredible work that you continue to do each and every day.
There are two items I want to briefly cover today.
The first is about the routemap we published yesterday, on how and when we might ease the current lockdown restrictions, while continuing to suppress the virus which is so, so vital.
As of 10 o’clock this morning, I can tell you, more than 100,000 of you have viewed that document on our website. My apologies to those who tried to do so yesterday and found that the demand had made the website struggle. I’m glad that so many people have managed to do so and my thanks to you for doing that.
And I would encourage those of you who haven’t yet had the opportunity, to go online and read it – and if you have any views about it you want us to know please feel free to send them to us.
The document set out the different phases in which we will aim to ease lockdown.
The steps it sets out are by necessity gradual and incremental. And we will monitor them carefully as they do take effect.
And our plans will change if the data, evidence or our knowledge of the virus changes.
Let me stress though that that could include lifting restrictions more quickly than we otherwise think we can do.
I want to stress – and this is a really important point – that none of the changes are yet in place. During this Bank Holiday weekend – and into next week – the current lockdown restrictions are still in place.
That’s important for me to stress. The one thing that will slow down the lifting of lockdown is us taking our foot off the brake too quickly and allowing the virus to spread rapidly again.
However, on a more optimistic note, as things stand, we intend to enter the first phase of easing restrictions, from next Thursday 28 May – now less than one week away.
By then, I hope we will still be seeing progress against the virus, but also by then we will also be ready to start with our Test, Trace and Isolate programme – Test and Protect we’re calling it – as you’ve heard me say before, that is a key tool for us in continuing to keep the virus suppressed as we start gradually easing these restrictions.
As I said yesterday, not all of the Phase 1 measures will necessarily be introduced immediately next Thursday – though I hope most will be. But we’ll have to make a judgement at the time.
But I want to reiterate some of the changes that I hope we will see from next week so that you know what you’re able to look forward to.
As the document sets out, more outdoor activity will be permitted. There is a strong emphasis in the first phase on outdoor activity because one of the things we are learning about this virus is that the risks of transmission outdoors, although not zero, absolutely not zero, are nevertheless lower than the risks of transmission indoors.
So You will be able in this first phase to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas. And as long as you stay two metres apart, you will be able to meet outside, with people from another household, including in private gardens.
Let me be clear because I know it is a question that has been asked, that doesn’t limit you to seeing just one specific household during this phase – you can see different households, but we are asking you only to meet one at a time.
We’re also not intending to put a five mile limit on the distance you can travel to, for example, sit with your parents in their garden.
But we are asking you to use judgement. And increasingly as we come out of lockdown, I’m going to be relying more and more on you to exercise the good judgement that I know you will.
If, for example you travel a long distance to see a relative outside, you’ll be more likely to go inside the house to use the bathroom, for example.
And we don’t want you to go inside others’ houses in this phase because if you are infectious, maybe without knowing it, you risk leaving the virus on surfaces inside the house and that would pose a risk to other people, particularly if you’re visiting elderly relatives – that is a risk we don’t want you to take.
So please use your judgement and have uppermost in your mind the need to protect those you care about – even if that might mean staying apart from them for just a little a bit longer.
As well as those changes, some non-contact outdoor leisure activities will be allowed to restart from the end of next week – such as golf, tennis, bowls and fishing – croquet as well, as I was asked about in Parliament – subject to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing.
People will be able to travel – preferably by walking or cycling – to a location near their local community for recreation. But here we are asking you to stay fairly local. Five miles will not be a strict limit but it is a guide. We don’t want, in this phase, people congregating at tourist hot spots – because crowds of people – even if they’re trying to socially distance – brings more risk than we judge is safe to take at this time.
Waste and recycling services will resume, as will many outdoor businesses.
The construction industry will be able to carefully implement the first steps in its restart plan.
Other industries, that might not resume straight away but in the next phase, will be permitted in phase 1 to start to prepare workplaces.
Outdoor retail outlets such as garden centres will be allowed to reopen.
And, very importantly, we will also start, albeit gradually and carefully, to resume NHS services which were paused as a result of the pandemic.
Schools will not reopen until 11 August. But, during June, teachers will return to prepare for the new term and for a different model of learning.
Over the summer, an increased number of children will have access to critical childcare.
And we intend to provide, where possible, transition support for children going into primary 1 or moving from primary 7 to secondary school.
Childminders can re-open during phase 1. And over the summer all early years childcare providers will open again subject to necessary health measures.
The routemap provides more detail on these steps – and on each subsequent phase. It also outlines how they will work alongside our ‘Test and Protect’ approach – which as I said a moment ago, will be vital, in helping to control the virus.
In the days ahead we will publish more detailed advice and information for you the public, as well as guidance covering key sectors of our economy, travel and transport. That’s a really important part of preparing for the move to phase 1. So that there is as much clarity as possible about what we are saying and what we are asking you not to do at this stage.
However, I want to emphasise a key point. None of the changes I’ve talked about today, are yet in place. We can only begin to implement them if we continue to suppress this virus. And that’s why – for the moment – the current lockdown restrictions remain in place.
That brings me to the final item I want to cover. It’s about our support for people, in dealing with the lockdown. And it has particular relevance, as we mark the end of mental health awareness week.
We know this crisis is causing increased anxiety and stress for probably everybody in the population. We also know that – because of the lockdown – many people are cut off from their usual support networks – be that family, friends, or the wider community. That problem is – of course – particularly acute for those of you who are isolating or shielding.
The Scottish Government has been trying to take action throughout this, to address this issue. Today, I can tell you that – since the lockdown began – we have provided more than £8 million to projects aimed at tackling social isolation.
That money comes from our Wellbeing Fund. And it is now supporting around 350 projects, in every part of the country.
The services they are providing include phone calls for older people who are self-isolating; food parcels and special packs for families; help with digital technology for those who need it; and respite care for parents of children with additional support needs.
So I want to take the opportunity today to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone working across the third sector organisations and volunteers who are involved in providing these services. Your willingness to help others – at what will also be a difficult time for you, as well as for others – is hugely appreciated.
And I want to stress one of the key messages of mental health awareness week is that it’s okay not to feel okay – and that help is available if you need it.
I would encourage any of you to look for help if you do feel you need it
The Clear Your Head website – clearyourhead.scot – brings together all of the different information about support that is available.
I want to close today by just emphasising the point I’ve made a couple of times already, that for the time being, the current lockdown restrictions remain in place.
The Chief Constable will say a few words in a moment, for now I just want to reiterate – once again – what those restrictions are.
Except for essential purposes – exercise, going to essential work that can’t be done at home, or getting food or medicine you should stay at home.
You can now exercise more than once a day – but please stay more than 2 metres from other people. And don’t yet meet up with people from other households.
Please wear a face covering if you are in an enclosed space like a shop or on public transport. And you should wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
Finally, if you have symptoms, or someone else in your household has symptoms of COVID-19, isolate completely.
I know how hard these restrictions are. And I know that hearing me talk about easing them as we head into a bank holiday weekend, will make all of this seem even tougher.
But we need to stick with it for a few more days. And if we do, I really hope that this time next week when I’m standing here telling you all to have I nice weekend, I’ll also be telling you to enjoy, for the first time in a long while, seeing some family or friends over the weekend – as long as you do it outdoors and remember to stay physically distanced.
Everybody’s been magnificent so far, please stick with it for a few more days and we can take that first step on the road back to some kind of normality.
Thank you all very much for your co-operation and I’ll now hand over to the chief constable to say a few words before handing over to Professor Leitch.
The routemap has been welcomed by SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald. He said: “We all know that we can’t live this way forever and we all want to get back some sense of normality.
“While we need to move carefully and gradually, the route map laid out today by the First Minister clearly sets out the steps that will take us there.
“Too many people in Edinburgh and across Scotland have lost their lives to this disease and we can’t risk another peak – so we must move in line with our own circumstances.
“We will get through this by working together by sticking to the advice to suppress the virus further and get back a way of life that is as close to normal as possible.”
NHS Lothian and its official charity partner, Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, are working together to prepare and deliver wellbeing boxes to NHS Lothian staff working in the community.
The pilot, which is being called ‘Wellbeing Hub in a Tub’, recognises that not all staff have access to the Wellbeing rooms that are being set up across some of the hospital sites and need alternative ways to access support that will make a positive difference to their health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The boxes are now being sent out and include sleep packs, handcream, lip balm, energy snacks, refreshments, car chargers, headphones, and many other items which will support the wellbeing of our teams in the community as they carry out their day to day role.
They also contain a wellbeing booklet with advice and guidance on how to look after their own emotional and physical health during these challenging times.
Part of a wider staff wellbeing initiative, these boxes have been made possible thanks to funding from Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation through its NHS Lothian Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund, collaboration with NHS Lothian teams, as well as through generous donations from companies including British Airways, Friendly Soap, Doublebase, Cetraben, Hydromol, Diprobase, Epoderm KIND Snacks, RitterSport and BaxterStorey, with Network Rail supporting distribution.
Amanda Langsley, Associate Director of OD and Learning, who has been spearheading the initiative, said: “It was really important for us to acknowledge the important role that all staff are playing during the pandemic and ensure that we were also supporting the wellbeing of our staff in the community.
“We have undertaken a lot of work setting up wellbeing rooms in various hospital sites and we needed to find a way to replicate this as best we could for staff who were unable to easily access these resources. 120 Wellbeing Hub in a Tub boxes will be distributed this week.
“This initiative will then be evaluated to ensure it is having the right impact and to determine the ongoing sustainability of this approach moving forward.”
Director of Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, Jane Ferguson, said: “Improving health and wellbeing is at the core of everything we do. During this time, staff are under increased pressure and often put their own wellbeing second.
“That is why it is so important that while they are helping us, we help them. This is another fantastic example of everyone coming together to support our amazing NHS Lothian colleagues and we are proud to be part of it.”
Wellbeing Hub in a Tub is part of a range of staff wellbeing initiatives that are being funded by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation through their NHS Lothian Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund.
These include: supporting the provision of wellbeing rooms with recliner chairs, TVs and appliances so staff can rest, relax and get some much needed downtime, hot meals and drinks to keep staff nourished and refreshed during long and busy shifts, accommodation costs for staff who are self-isolating from their families, and an increased staff listening service offering support to NHS Lothian staff who are under extreme pressure during these challenging times.
Over thirty charities and youth organisations have written a joint letter to the UK Government to tell them to limit the long-term impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health:
Dear Prime Minister,
Covid-19: impact on children and young people’s mental health
We are writing to you to ask that your Government takes urgent steps to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on children and young people’s mental health – both now and in the future.
The Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest health crisis for generations, and the measures that the Government has taken to limit the spread of the virus, including restrictions on movement and the closure of schools to most students, are necessary to save lives.
However, the crisis is affecting many young people in ways that will risk long-term consequences for their mental health. One in eight children and young people already have a diagnosable mental health condition, and research suggests that the majority of those believe that the pressures created by the crisis are exacerbating their needs.
Many others – including those who have experienced bereavement, abuse or domestic violence – are also likely to require additional support. The fear of becoming ill or seeing a loved one become ill, the loss of routines, the difficulties of social connection, the impact of loneliness, the disruption to education and the challenges of living in difficult or dangerous situations are creating additional pressure for young people across the country. Young people who belong to groups that are already marginalised or disadvantaged may be particularly at risk.
While mental health professionals deserve enormous credit for responding to the challenges the pandemic brings, many young people who were receiving some form of mental health treatment before the crisis are now receiving reduced support or no support at all. Other young people who would not previously have met the threshold for mental health support are likely to require it. Without preventative action, their needs are likely to escalate.
With the restrictions on access to schools, universities and primary care, there is often uncertainty or reticence about how and when to access mental health support. In many cases, young people have also lost the coping mechanisms that could help them to manage their mental health.
When it is safe for restrictions to change, there needs to be a clear plan about how to grow and develop services, how to enable social re-integration and how to support groups who are disproportionately affected by the crisis.
Before the pandemic, young people’s mental health was beginning to get the attention and resourcing it needs – but, despite improvements, services were often overstretched and inconsistent across the country. With demand likely to increase, we cannot afford to lose momentum.
We welcome the steps that the Government has already taken to prioritise mental health, including a £5 million fund for organisations providing mental health support, and guidance for parents issued through Public Health England.
However, this falls well short of meeting the scale of need. While many voluntary sector providers have been quick to adapt to the changing landscape – moving support online, and using innovative approaches to safe service delivery – there remain gaps in infrastructure and funding which threaten the long term sustainability of these efforts
That is why your Government must take a clear and coordinated approach to tackling the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, launching a recovery plan that enables the growth and continuity of support as restrictions change.
We are calling on your Government to:
We recognise the scale of the challenge that the Government is facing. However, by taking bold action now, you can reduce the impact of the pandemic and give hope to millions of children and young people across the country.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Thomas, Chief Executive, YoungMinds
Professor Peter Fonagy, Chief Executive, The Anna Freud Centre
Kate Fallon, General Secretary, Association of Educational Psychologists
Kathy Roberts, CEO, Association of Mental Health Providers
Natalie Bailey, Chair, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Javed Khan, CEO, Barnardo’s
Dr Ruth Allen, CEO, British Association of Social Workers
Andrew Radford, Chief Executive, BEAT
Sarb Bajwa, Chief Executive, British Psychological Society
Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, British Youth Council
Sarah Hughes, CEO, Centre for Mental Health
Sir Norman Lamb, Chair, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
Kathy Evans, CEO, Children England
Mark Russell, Chief Executive, The Children’s Society
Angela Salt, CEO, Girlguiding
Advocate Youth Panel, Girlguiding
Katie Ghose, Chief Executive Officer, KIDS
Hamish Elvidge, Chair, The Matthew Elvidge Trust
Mark Rowland, Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation
Paul Farmer CBE, Chief Executive, Mind
Chris Martin, Chief Executive, The Mix
Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary, NAHT
Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive, The National Autistic Society
Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union
Leigh Middleton, Chief Executive, National Youth Agency
Catherine Roche, Chief Executive, Place2Be
Professor Russell Viner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Professor Wendy Burn, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Duncan Stephenson, Deputy Chief Executive, Royal Society of Public Health
Ruth Sutherland, CEO, Samaritans
Schools Wellbeing Partnership
Dr Rania Marandos , Chief Executive, Step up to Serve
Ndidi Okezie, CEO, UK Youth
Denise Hatton, CEO, YMCA England & Wales
Barry Williams, Chief Executive, Youth Access
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House on Tuesday 19 May:
Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for joining us. I want to start – as I always do – by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to Covid-19 in Scotland.
As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,655 positive cases confirmed – an increase of 61 from yesterday.
A total of 1,447 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 – 969 who have been confirmed as having the virus, and 478 who are suspected of having Covid. That represents a total increase of 20 from yesterday, but within that a decrease of 36 in the number of confirmed cases.
A total of 59 people last night were in intensive care with either confirmed or suspected Covid 19. That is a decrease of 4 since yesterday.
I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,408 patients who had tested positive for the virus have been able to leave hospital.
Unfortunately though I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 29 deaths have been registered of patients who had been confirmed through a test as having Covid-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,134.
Tomorrow we will have the latest publication from National Records of Scotland, which include not only people that have died having tested positive but all those deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on a death certificate.
As always, I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost and is grieving for a loved one as a result of this virus.
I also want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers. The whole of the country continues to be very grateful to you for the extraordinary work that you are doing in these very challenging circumstances.
I have two items I want to briefly update on today. The first relates to the publication this morning of the latest employment figures in Scotland. These are for the period from January to March of this year. These are the first figures that include any of the period of the Covid-19 crisis.
They show that 113,000 people in Scotland are now unemployed – that is up from just under 100,000 in the previous three months.
That is an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Now, by historical standards, that actually is still a relatively low rate but of course it is important to stress that these figures, since they only extend up to the end of March, do not reflect the full economic impact of the pandemic.
They undoubtedly further demonstrate the need to carefully get our economy moving again as quickly as we are able to do that safely. And they underline the continuing need for government action to support the economy, and to help people keep their jobs or to enter or re-enter the workforce.
We know that the essential public health measures that we have had to take to deal with what is a public health emergency, are in themselves creating an economic emergency and that will have impact on people’s jobs, living standards and inequalities in our society.
And although the Job Retention Scheme has offered some relief to many employers and employees, I am very aware that many people will be deeply concerned about the future of their livelihoods.
That is why we have already allocated more than £2.3 billion to support businesses and protect livelihoods, and it is why we have welcomed so warmly many of the measures taken by the UK Government –including the Job Retention scheme.
In addition, Skills Development Scotland – as I discussed last week – has expanded its support for people seeking training or employment by establishing a phoneline and online service. The new online service – which highlights links to free courses which are available – has received 120,000 visits since it launched just over three weeks ago.
Today we are taking further action to tackle the employment challenge created by Covid.
Our Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board – which was first established 2 ½ years ago – will co-ordinate rapid action across our enterprise and skills agencies.
In doing so, it will ensure that our actions, now, are helping to equip people with the skills they need for the future. It will report back to us in June on what additional measures we need to take.
However I can confirm today that we will be investing a further £33 million to support people back to work as we gradually get the economy opened up again.
This initial funding – most of which will be allocated to Fair Start Scotland, our devolved employability service – will have a particular focus on helping those most adversely affected in times of economic downturn – which are young people, disabled people and lone parents.
Today’s announcement is one further action amongst many in our efforts to tackle the economic impacts of this crisis, but it is, I think, an important one.
We know all too well from previous recessions that the longer people stay jobless, the greater the chance of further impacts – their skills can deteriorate, their confidence can fall, and that in turn can have an impact on future prospects.
We also know that these effects are of course bad for individuals – especially young people – and that they are also damaging for the economy as a whole. And that means that when an upturn comes, when the economy starts to recover, employers can find it more difficult to hire the people they need.
For all of these reasons, we are determined to do everything we can to protect Scotland’s workforce; to minimise – as far as we can – the increase in unemployment; and to ensure that we are ready for a sustainable recovery. Today’s actions represent a further step in helping us to do that.
The second issue I want to talk about relates to the fact that this week is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year’s theme is kindness.
In many ways that’s especially appropriate right now. Kindness should, I think, be one of the core values of any good society. And, as I suspect most of us have experienced in recent weeks, even small acts of kindness can make a huge difference to the way someone is feeling.
We have been aware throughout this crisis of the impact that Covid-19, and our lockdown measures, are likely to have on people’s mental health.
That is why we have expanded NHS 24’s telephone and online services to support mental health; it’s why we established a National Wellbeing Hub to support the mental health of NHS and social care staff; and it’s also why we launched the “Clear Your Head” campaign, which you may have seen in the media.
Clear Your Head provides practical advice on how to stay active, keep connected with friends and family, and create healthy routines to help get through this crisis.
Today we are making a further investment to support the mental health and wellbeing of parents and carers in particular.
Solihull Online is a programme that helps parents and carers to learn about what their child may be going through, and developing nurturing and supportive relationships. From today, all parents and carers in Scotland will have access to the programme and if you are interested in this you can find more information by going to ParentClub.scot.
The final point I want to make, is that one of the most important things to remember during Mental Health Awareness Week, is that it’s okay not to feel okay – and that help is available.
You can speak to someone if you need to, and I would encourage you to do so. The Clear Your Head website – clearyourhead.scot – brings together our information about support that is available for mental health.
So please have a look at the website during the Awareness Week. And please, continue, as far as all of us can, to show kindness to each other as we try get through this crisis together.
Before I hand over to the CMO, I want to emphasise once again our key public health measures.
As is said yesterday, on Thursday this week we will publish a routemap, setting how on a phased basis, we will ease the lockdown while continuing to suppress the virus.
My hope and intention is that we will take the first concrete steps on that journey next week.
But, we will increase both the likelihood and the extent of that by sticking to the rules now.
Please stay at home except for essential purposes- such as daily exercise, going to essential work that you can’t do from home, or buying essential items.
You can now exercise more than once a day – but when you do leave home, stay more than 2 metres away from others. And do not meet up with people from other households.
Please think about wearing a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport. And remember to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, then you should stay at home completely. Those symptoms are a high temperature, a persistent cough, or now a change or loss of smell or taste.
For now, these restrictions do remain essential.
They are helping us to slow down the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS, and to save lives.
So thank you once again, to everyone, for your cooperation.
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (18 – 24th May) comes at an unprecedented time of global change.
As nations all across the planet slowly unfurl the restrictions of lockdown and societies begin to take small steps back to a version of ‘normal’ life, the lack of certainty over what will happen next continues to cause anxiety and distress to many.
During the lockdown, The World From My Window (TWFMW) has shone a spotlight on the stories of the individuals who are living through this difficult, shared experience. So far, hundreds of personal accounts and stories have been collected from 40 different countries across the globe; including, Pakistan, Uganda, North America, Sudan, the UK, Belarus, New Zealand and Palestine.
Everyone has a different story to tell. We have heard from patients in the throes of recovery, parents at home – struggling to balance demands of children and work and popstars – including Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne, who is finding hope in the opportunity to stay still.
What has been the common thread in all the submissions and stories received, is that making the time to write down your anxieties and emotions can bring comfort during a period of crisis.
You can add your voice to the growing digital anthology of stories told by all these global citizens by writing a short story or letter to describe what your world looks like right now. The goal is to gather stories from as many countries and societal perspectives as possible and to build a varied and holistic picture of this moment in our shared history.
Here are some extracts from the stories we have received so far:
“Loneliness is nothing to do with distance. It can happen anywhere, because it’s something we carry inside us, like a pain in our heart. We can be alone in a crowded room, even when people we love are right beside us.” – Paul, London
“Could you ever imagine, even in your wildest dreams, that a pandemic will bring the entire world to a halt? The world so preoccupied that it whooshes by those who take a moment to catch a breath.” – Atif, Islamabad.
“I hear cars and trucks, delivering important things, I hear possums and birds, wandering around, I hear neighbors and pets, living their lives, I hear silence most often and that’s a lovely sound.” – Rebecca, Australia
“I’m grateful for this moment of calm. The pressures of having to be the smartest, the most successful, the prettiest, the thinnest have disappeared and I am now free.” Sophie, West Sussex.
“…what I miss the most? It’s the ritual we were doing to increase our neurotransmitters – oxycontin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. The simple ritual of a Hug. – Subhan, Baku.
‘They remind me that outside my little mansion there are other stories, other entities and matter, and everything in our little world will pass, one day at a time. It’s a strange comfort’ – Aurora, Barcelona
During Mental Health Awareness Week, TWFMW is encouraging more submissions through a partnership with Centrepoint and a series of interactive Instagram live workshops and discussions.
Isolation is especially hard on vulnerable young people and TWFMW is feeding into the Centrepoint, #ChallengeAccepted, arts initiative by giving young people an opportunity to share their story via social channels in a series of different tasks and focuses to keep active and engaged during the lockdown.
To tell your story visit http://
All stories will be read with as many as possible being shared across our The World From My Window platforms.
All health and social services staff in Scotland can now access free apps to cope with insomnia and anxiety as part of a nationwide effort to support the mental health of key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NHS Scotland has this week launched a national programme to provide those working in health and social services with access to practical, everyday advice and support, as well as mental health apps and tips on self-care to help staff cope with the challenges they are facing with the pandemic.
As part of the PRoMIS National Wellbeing Hub, the apps on offer include programmes designed to help maintain healthy and restorative sleep, reduce anxiety and worry, and to help staff learn evidence-based techniques to address mental health issues when they arise.
The NHS-accredited apps Daylight – designed to help with worry and anxiety – and Sleepio – a digital sleep improvement programme featuring Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques – are both developed by digital therapeutics company Big Health.
Sleepio has already been made available to almost 30,000 residents in the Western Isles, and both Sleepio and Daylight were recently made available at no cost to all NHS employees across England thanks to a partnership with NHS England.
As the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues, health and social services staff remain at the frontline and are being placed under mounting pressure. The news comes as first Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stressed that the “stay at home” message remains in place in Scotland after Boris Johnson announced his “conditional plan” to reopen society.
Big Health co-founder and Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford, Professor Colin Espie, has praised NHS Scotland’s timely response in protecting the mental health of NHS staff as well as their physical health during the pandemic.
Commenting on Big Health’s partnership with NHS Scotland Professor Espie said: “I’m honoured that Big Health is able to support our colleagues in NHS Scotland to help safeguard their mental health during these most challenging of times.
“NHS staff are working under enormous pressure whilst also experiencing significant changes to their lives at home as a result of COVID-19. We built Sleepio and Daylight to help people effectively manage their mental health whether the challenges occur during the night or day.”
Dr Sandra Ferguson, Associate Director Psychology and Lead for National Trauma Training Programme at NHS Education for Scotland added: ““There is increasing evidence that insomnia and sleep difficulties is an area that staff in health and social care are increasingly reporting.
“We are delighted to have worked with Sleepio who have designed this evidence-based app to support staff in resolving these difficulties. A good night’s sleep is a central part of overall wellbeing.”
Sleepio and Daylight are available at no cost to everyone working in the NHS to support their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These solutions aim to support staff to maintain healthy and restorative sleep, reduce anxiety and worry, and to help them learn evidence-based techniques to address mental health issues when they arise.
