NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN SCOTLAND
About the Programme
Mental health is one of the key health priorities for NHS Scotland. While there is a
continuing need to improve services and support for people with mental health problems and
people with mental health illness, there is also a requirement to develop a greater
understanding of mental health and well-being in Scotland.
The National Programme is a key part of the Scottish Executive's Health Improvement and
Social Justice strategies.
Over £4m has been identified from the Health Improvement Fund to support the work of the
National Programme from 2001 – 2004. A further £20m has recently been secured for 20036.
The initial work of the programme focuses on promoting positive mental health and
wellbeing, preventing suicide; and undertaking a national campaign to challenge and
eliminate the stigma and discrimination which people with mental health problems in
Scotland still face.
National Programme Team
Despite the packed agenda, the Programme Team is a very small unit. The Team consists of
5 staff at present. These staff are listed below with their e-mail addresses:
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Gregor Henderson, Director
Fiona Tyrrell, Policy Head
Gavin Russell, Policy Adviser
Andy Watson, Policy Officer
Jonathan Gordon, Admin
( Gregor.Henderson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk )
( Fiona.Tyrrell@scotland.gsi.gov.uk )
( Gavin.Russell@scotland.gsi.gov.uk )
( Andy.watson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk )
( Jonathan.Gordon@scotland.gsi.gov.uk )
Further staff are expected to join the team in the near future, including a Team Leader and
Clinical Adviser on the ‘Choose Life’ work.
Policy Links
To be added.
AIMS
The National Programme aims to improve the mental health and well-being of the Scottish
population by:
 Increasing public awareness and understanding about the need for positive mental health
and well-being.
 Taking action to address risk factors and ‘at risk groups’ as well as promoting and
sustaining those factors which are protective and supportive of good mental health and
well-being.
 Improving public awareness and understanding about mental health problems and mental
ill health and acting to prevent mental health problems developing.
 Ensuring that there is both early identification and early intervention of support, care and
treatment when mental health problems do occur to promote improved chances of
recovery and return to everyday life.
 Working to reduce the incidence of suicide in Scotland.
 Working to eliminate the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health
problems experience.
 Taking a targeted approach to action to address inequalities in mental health and wellbeing.
OBJECTIVES
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Increased mental health and well-being
Reduction in stigma and discrimination
Reduction in rates of suicide and deliberate self harm
Reduction in mental health problems and symptoms
Increased rates of recovery
Increased investment in evidence based programmes for promotion and prevention
VALUES
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People have a right to be involved in determining their own futures.
Mental health is a component of all health.
Recognising and building on the strengths and capacities of individuals, families,
neighbourhoods, communities and organisations.
Working in ways that encourage, enhance and sustain partnership working, the
development of alliances and connections.
Tackling inequalities, closing the opportunity gap and working towards greater inclusion
and social justice.
Working as part of the national effort to complement, augment and enhance work on
health improvement and social justice.
NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP
A National Advisory Group was established to advise on the Programme's strategic direction
and priorities. The Group is made up of a wide range of interests from the community
development sector through to voluntary agencies, employers, trade unionists, people
working in education, the Health Service, Local Authority housing and also a range of
Scottish Executive Departmental representatives from education, health, social inclusion,
justice and other areas. The Group has now met several times and the "Well?" publication
indicates the priorities they wish to see taken forward.
REMIT
The National Advisory Group has been established to advise on the development and
implementation of this innovative public policy programme in Scotland and help provide
leadership and encourage commitment to the programme and its successful co-ordination
with other work both nationally and locally.
The National Advisory Group will advise Scottish Ministers on the development and
implementation of the national programme to improve the mental health and well being of the
Scottish population by:
Promoting co-ordination of effort and cohesion across the Scottish Executive and
other Government Departments and sectors;
Considering and advising on relevant evidence and practical examples from across
Scotland, the UK, Europe and beyond;
Helping to develop a programme of work which is practical and deliverable and
achieves an appropriate balance between national and local effort; and between longer
term aims and more immediate action;
Supporting the programme by contributing to on-going work and the planning of
future work;
Maximising opportunities to improve mental health and well-being, bringing ideas,
identifying gaps in the programme, participating in projects, etc.
Making efforts to identify possible additional funding sources and partnership
funding opportunities – particularly to ensure the continuation of initiatives in the
longer term;
Sustaining and encouraging commitment to the aims of the National Programme.
MEMBERSHIP
Chair
Mr Malcolm Chisholm MSP
Minister for Health and Community Care
Members
Ms Pat Bagot, Communities Scotland
Mr Tam Baillie, ‘Big Step’ Care Leavers Partnership
Ms Shona Barcus, Scottish Association for Mental Health
Mr Allan Barr, Director, Scottish Community Development Centre
Mr David Morris, Director, Equalities Programme, Dept. of Health
Mrs Catherine Bryce C/o NSF Scotland (National Schizophrenia Fellowship)
Mr Robert Burnett, STUC
Ms Anne Clarke, Health Planning and Promotion Team Manager, Argyle & Clyde NHS
Board
Ms Linda Dunion, Campaign Manager, People Too
Mrs Val Eaglesham C/o NSF
Ms Alison Elliot, Centre for Theology & Public Issues, The University of Edinburgh
Ms Susan Grant, Senior Policy and Research Officer, Children in Scotland
Ms Maddy Halliday, Mental Health Foundation
Dr Margaret Hannah, Public Health Consultant, Fife NHS Board
Mr Nigel Henderson, Director, Penumbra
Ms Emma Hogg, Health Education Board for Scotland
Ms Anne Lee, Mental Health Officer, Greater Glasgow Health Board
Ms Roo Kharbanda, Public Health Policy Officer, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities,
(COSLA)
Ms Allyson McCollum, Acting Director, Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health
Ms Lindsay MacHardy, Director of Programmes and Communications, Health Education
Board for Scotland
Ms Eleanor McGinley, Association of Head Teachers in Scotland
Mr Ian Miller OBE, Chairman, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
Ms Alison Murray, Chair, Health Working Group, Scottish Youth Parliament
Ms Christina Naismith, Association of Directors of Social Work
Professor Steve Platt, Director, Research Unit in Health & Behavioural Change
Dr Ian Pullen, Chair of Mental Health & Well Being Support Group
Ms Gail Ramsay, Royal College of Nursing Scottish Board
Dr Bill Reith, Chairman, Royal College of General Practitioners
Ms Jane Scott, Head of Corporate Affairs, The Boots Company plc
Ms Adrienne Sinclair Chalmers, Director, Advocacy Safeguards Agency
Dr Michael Smith, Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Ms Catriona Strivens c/o Highland Community Care Forum
Dr Carol Tannahill, Public Health Institute of Scotland
Ms Chris Evans c/o Highland Community Care Forum
Ms Jennifer Trueland, journalist
Ms Mary Weir, Chief Executive, National Schizophrenia Fellowship
Mr Gregor Henderson, Programme Director
Scottish Executive Officials
Ministers and Advisors
To be added.
PROGRAMME PROJECT TEAM
Background and Introduction
Along with a National Advisory Group to advise on the development and implementation of
this national programme, a Programme Project Team was established to help secure the
effective implementation of the initial stages of the programme.
The programme aims to bring a strategic approach to the enhancement of mental health and
well-being and is at the core of public policy to improve the health of individuals, families
and communities in Scotland. The implementation of this programme requires a change in
the ways in which we perceive mental health, new ways of thinking about public policy and
its impact on mental health and well-being and a reconsideration of how we shape services to
achieve mental health gain.
The national programme to promote mental health and well being is a key part of furthering
the stated objectives of Scottish Executive policy. These include:
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Scottish public health policy set out in ‘Towards a Healthier Scotland’. This identifies the
social, economic and environmental life circumstances that influence health, including
mental health;
The Social Justice strategy’s affirmation of the Executive’s commitment to reduce
inequalities and to improve community well-being;
‘Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change’ identifying investment in
health improvement, including a campaign to promote positive mental health, and looking
at ways of overcoming the stigma that is associated with mental illness and mental health
problems, as well as the development of a national framework to prevent suicide and
deliberate self harm.
The Millan Committee recommendation that there should be a public education campaign
to improve public understanding of mental disorder and attitudes towards people with
mental disorders.
The Role and Remit of the Programme Project Team
The remit of the National Advisory Group is to provide advice on the development and
implementation of a national programme to promote mental health and well being.
To begin to establish the necessary infrastructure for the national programme and to work up
the detail of the first phases of work a Programme Project Team is being established.
The Programme Project Team has been putting in place the necessary infrastructure to ensure
the effective project management of the national programme. This includes:
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Developing a set of objectives for the programme, with identifiable outcomes and costs.
Developing the detailed work to be undertaken by the initial twin track approach
endorsed by Ministers. This includes a) a series of focused initiatives and b) a process of
exploration and inquiry.
Liasing with agencies across Scotland and with the Mental Health Promotion Programme
established in England