scotPHO introduction:
  Allergic conditions
  Cancer
  CHD
  Diabetes
  Disability
  Epilepsy
  Hepatitis C
  Immunisations
  Infections
  Mental Health
  Key points
  Introduction
  Policy context
Key policy documents and initiatives
  Other policy document sand initiatives
  Data
  Key data sources
  References
  Useful links
  Multiple Sclerosis
  Oral Health
  Stroke
  Suicide
Text Only  |  Text Size: A |  A+ |  A++

Mental Health: policy context

Improving mental health is a national priority, as indicated in, for example, the public health white paper Towards a Healthier Scotland, 1999 and more recently the strategic framework for health improvement Improving Health in Scotland: The Challenge, 2003 and the establishment by the Scottish Executive of a National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being.

Key mental health policy documents and initiatives in Scotland

Towards a Healthier Scotland - A White Paper on Health, 1999, established mental health as a leading priority for the NHS in Scotland and called for social inclusion initiatives to help improve well-being and so enhance mental health. It recognised that mental health is profoundly influenced by life circumstances, especially in childhood, and by lifestyle and is an integral part of the wider agenda for health improvement.

Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change 2000PDF Button(1260kb), established a framework for further improvements in health and health services and included a commitment to a national anti stigma campaign, the promotion of mental well being and a national framework to reduce suicides in Scotland.  A National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well Being was subsequently launched in October 2001.

Partnership for Care: Scotland's Health White Paper 2003 gave further emphasis to the importance of continuing efforts in the above areas.

Improving Health in Scotland: The Challenge 2003 included mental health and well-being as a special focus programme and committed the Scottish Executive to establish a for the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being between 2003 and 2006.

The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well Being, established by the Scottish Executive to raise the profile of, and to support further action in:

  • promoting mental health and well being  
  • eliminating  the stigma of mental ill-health
  • recovery from mental illness and
  • suicide prevention.

Several national initiatives and infrastructures have been established to take forward components of the National Programme:

  • Choose Life website, national strategy and action plan to prevent suicide in Scotland published in December 2002.
  • Scottish Recovery Network, aims to engage communities across Scotland on how best to promote and support recovery from long-term mental health problems.
  • See me Scotland, a national campaign to eliminate the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health problems face.
  • HeadsUpScotland, a national project for children and young people's mental health.
  • Mental Health Indicators Project, project investigating the establishment of a core set of national mental health and well-being indicators for Scotland.
  • Mental Health Improvement Evidence and Practice Programme
  • Mental Health Improvement Research and Evaluation Programme
  • Breathing Space, a free and confidential phoneline service for any individual, who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to.

Click here for other relevant mental health policy documents and initiatives.