Wellbeing crisis is a massive challenge
Everyone has a part to play in combating epidemic of loneliness, anxiety and depression
As one of Scotland’s newest government ministers, Mairi Gougeon, contemplates her in-tray there will be one subject which might naturally jump to the top of the pile.
The new Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing is charged with overseeing testing for Covid-19, a measure which will remain critical to efforts to control the pandemic for many months at least, while the vaccination programme is rolled out.
There is another part of her job that should require just as great a focus over the coming months.
It is a task that is far more difficult to measure success in than the administration of tests, but it is in many ways just as important to the health of the nation.
It is in her role as the Minister for Wellbeing that so many of us may come to rely on the services which she will run in the months ahead.
The Scotsman has long been an advocate for sport and all the benefits that it brings for mental and physical health as well as the development of our young people.
Sport can play a key role in supporting our wellbeing as we step into the New Year with the prospect of a prolonged lockdown hanging over us.
Concerns about wellbeing are likely to dominate many of our lives over the coming year, whether that is in the form of some level of personal struggle, or supporting others such as loved ones and employees.
Supporting that of course will need far more than the work of a junior government minister, however able she might be.
The ongoing lockdown is already causing a dramatic and terrible increase in the number of people struggling with anxiety, loneliness and depression. Human beings are social animals and the necessary restrictions under which we are living take their toll.
Everyone will wish Ms Gougeon well as she plays her part in leading the response of our public services to this public health crisis.
The solutions of course do not all rest in her hands.
Extra finance for struggling mental health services, promoting the continuation of sport and exercise whenever safe and more people throughout society learning how to spot and act upon warning signs of mental distress are just some of them.