Opening date’

funding of a centre and sets out what will be delivered. Any political noise can’t drown those facts out.”

SNP candidate for Dundee East, Shona Robison, added: “We are acutely aware of the huge demands upon mental health services, particularly at the moment due to the pandemic.

“That is why, within our manifesto, an SNP government will ensure that direct investment into mental health services increases by at least 25% and that, by the end of the parliament, 10% of our frontline NHS budget will be invested in mental health.

“These are significant commitments and we hope, together with other measures, this will create a positive and lasting impact on the challenges faced by so many owing to their mental health.”

SNP candidate for Dundee West, Joe FitzPatrick, also described the report as a big milestone.

He said: “Shona and I have met with a variety of charities in the city who all share the appetite for a mental health crisis facility and with a clear commitment, financial support identified and a positive timeline, we are in a much more positive space.

“I look forward to seeing this coming to fruition.”

What the centre is earmarked to do:

n Create a single point of entry – including a single phone number – both for people experiencing a mental health crisis and people experiencing emotional distress.

n Host immediately available support and facilitate access to a wide range of city wide resources.

n Have direct access to specialist mental health resources for those people presenting with acute mental health crisis.

n Have access to short-term accommodation with support.

n Provide an immediate, compassionate response to people at the point of greatest need with this being followed by a timelimited period of support to assist people to problem-solve the issues they are facing and become more anchored in community-based wellbeing resources and supports.

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