MARY Breaking the stigma of child loss
BY WEST SCOTLAND MSP MARY FEE
Last week the Scottish Parliament returned from its summer recess and I had the privilege of hosting an event in parliament on child bereavement: Breaking the Silence.
The event was organised to break the stigma around talking openly about child bereavement, and to raise awareness of charities and the services they can provide to families at the most vulnerable time of their lives.
It was deeply humbling to meet parents who shared their experience and the organisations that support them.
According to the National Records of Scotland, the statistics for 2018 show that there were: 190 stillbirths, 265 perinatal deaths, 112 neonatal deaths and 163 infant deaths.
That is 730 bereaved families across Scotland in desperate need of support.
Each charity and association at the event dedicate their time to helping vulnerable, bereaved families through the most devastating experience of their lives and, most importantly, continue to play a part in the families’ grief and their healing process.
Charities attending the event included: CHAS, Calum’s Cabin, SiMBA, Our Missing Peace, Sands Lothian, Sean’s Trust, Scottish Cots Death Trust, Remember my baby, Child Bereavement UK and the National Association of Funeral directors.
The vital support these charities provide often goes unheard of unless you have experienced the loss of a child. I hope that the event can shine a bright light on the tremendous help each organisations gives to bereaved parents.
If you or anyone you know has experienced the loss of their child and would like information on the support that charities can offer bereaved parents then please do get in touch with my office.
Programme For Government As parliament returned to session last week, the SNP detailed their Programme for Government for the next year.
I welcome the commitments on climate change and the plans for a green new deal.
However, it was another demonstration of the SNP Government’s focus on constitutional issues.
While Westminster is embroiled with Brexit, the SNP want to use this to create more constitutional chaos instead of tackling the serious challenges Scotland faces.
Climate proposals aside, overall the programme shows that SNP does not have the bold answers needed to help people in Scotland.
From the recent fall in higher pass rates for the fourth consecutive year to new figures showing record medical vacancies in our NHS Health Services, our public services are suffering.
This is a government prepared to accept housing costs that continue to rocket beyond people’s means, the reliance on foodbanks at an all-time high and public transport being driven by profit, not passengers.
I was disappointed that the programme did not offer enough help for the improvement of mental health services across the country. Especially when it was revealed last week that more than 30 per cent of young people are waiting longer than the 18-week target time to access mental health services.
Forcing through another referendum will not solve the many issues that affect people’s lives in Scotland.