Inside Track Focus
the end of January. So what feedback can the Government expect to receive? Carolyn Roberts, head of policy and campaigning at the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), says it is great to see mental health being prioritised by the Scottish Government. Tere is a high level of interest and enthusiasm for improving mental health in Scotland that has been evident in the various events and discussions held around the country about the strategy, she observes.
“I think thousands of people must have been involved in sharing their opinions about the strategy. We think we’ve spoken to about 700 people, and the fact that so many people wanted to speak to us – and that it is a mixture of individuals and organisations – I think reflects the fact that the Scottish government is right to give mental health such a priority.” If the new mental health strategy is to be effective, SAMH believes it must be based on and reflect people’s real experiences. It also has to be realistic and, to this end, the consultation document acknowledges that the strategy won’t be able to do everything at once. Instead, it must identify the key issues that, if addressed, will have the most significant impact over the next four years and deliver better outcomes across the whole care pathway.
“I think the Scottish government has given quite a clear sense that they see this as a short- term strategy, it takes the form of an action plan really,” explains Roberts. “I think that is a legitimate way to do it,” she continues. “Obviously when we were campaigning pre-election we wanted a longer- term strategy, and I think there are benefits in a longer-term strategy that has more of a vision and more of a strategic aim. But we can work with a shorter-term strategy.” Te strategy appears to mirror the three-year dementia strategy which, she points out, the Government is committed to renewing at the end. “If we get a similar commitment then we can work with that,” she says. Te four key areas where the Government has said it intends to focus its time and efforts are: psychological therapies; the national dementia strategy; the balance between community, inpatient and crisis services; and preventing suicide. Andrew Sim, the Samaritans’ director for Scotland, welcomes the continuing focus on suicide prevention in the strategy, but explains he would also like to see a longer- term commitment given to a national suicide prevention strategy. “Currently Choose Life runs until 2013. Tis is a strategy until 2015. So whilst government is committed to 2013, we would like to see a longer-term commitment to a national suicide prevention strategy because you really have to have a national suicide prevention strategy for us to go ahead
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www.holyrood.com 30 January 2012 Suzie Vestri
with suicide prevention work. You need the strategic framework in order that the key elements are implemented locally and nationally and without a national strategy on suicide prevention there wouldn’t be a great impetus for us to deliver in Scotland.” “Excellent progress” has been made in bringing down the number of suicides over the past ten years, he says, but points out that in 2010 – when 781 deaths by suicide were
restated its commitment to mental health.” He would also like to see more targeted work to address the prevalence of male suicide. “If you look at suicide statistics males account for around three out of four suicides and you can almost describe death by suicide as a problem of men,” he says. “While the rate for women has decreased steadily over the past 50 years suicide rates for men are at the same level as they were in the 60s. So I think some more targeted work is required to address the high risk of suicide in men, specifically men in mid-life and people who are affected generally by other health inequalities.” Te Samaritans’ Men on the Ropes campaign specifically targets working-class, middle-aged men as those who are most at risk. Te organisation is also working with Network Rail to reduce railway suicides by 20 per cent during the five year campaign. Te aim is to encourage men not to bottle up their feelings and to help them express their emotions, while highlighting that the charity’s 24-hour confidential helpline means there is always someone to listen. Samaritans volunteers pick up the phone to people who want to talk about a wide range of issues. Tis gives them a broad perspective on what people are experiencing and possibly reveals where services may be lacking, explains Sim. “We are a 24-hour helpline and receive an awful lot of calls at night, which may or may not indicate that there is a lack of other services at night, that we are maybe in some way seen as an adjunct to out-of-hours services.
“I think there are benefits in a longer- term strategy that has more of a vision and more of a strategic aim. But we can work with a shorter-term strategy”
reported in Scotland – there was a small rise for the first time in a number of years. “It has coincided with the economic
downturn and I think, against that background, it is particularly important that suicide prevention is maintained as a priority over the coming years. So we are certainly pleased that the government has put this paper out quite soon after the election and
“I think certainly there is a danger with budget constraints that, where specialist services are being cut, other agencies are being brought in or end up filling the gaps and whilst Samaritans has its place in providing emotional support to people going through anything in their lives we are certainly not a substitute for high-quality mental health services.” Te consultation document also seeks feedback on what further action can be taken to reduce the stigma of mental illness and ill health and to
reduce discrimination. Scotland has “led the way” in terms of mental health improvement and achieved real success in changing attitudes towards mental health, says “see me” campaign director, Suzie Vestri, but adds they are also “well aware” that big challenges remain. “While there has been a very noticeable and welcome shift in people’s attitudes towards
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