Mentalhealthmusttake centrestageatelection

The Holyrood 2021 elections are just weeks away and voters across Mid-Scotland and Fife will soon be choosing their Scottish Parliament representatives for the next five years.

We know that mental health is an important issue for many readers.

We at the Mental Health Foundation Scotland are calling on all political parties and candidates to pledge to build a wellbeing society and deliver good mental health for all.

The impact on mental health should be a factor in all government decisions. We want to make sure that people everywhere are supported to live mentally healthy lives with adequate investment in initiatives that address the root causes of poor mental health and prevent problems developing.

According to a YouGov poll we carried out in March 2021, 46 per cent of people in Mid-Scotland and Fife said they were not confident that they would receive quick access to support if they were experiencing a mental health problem and approached their GP for help. That’s why one of our recommendations is to pilot a ‘Mental Health Guarantee’ where people with mild to moderate mental health problems receive a referral to community or talking based therapy within six weeks.

Read more about our #WellbeingSociety campaign, how you can get involved and see if your local candidates have signed the pledge to deliver good mental health for all at www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ Holyrood21. We also invite you to join our online hustings event on Monday, April 12 where you can put your questions to representatives from the main Scottish political parties.

Lee Knifton

Director, Mental Health Foundation Scotland