| A mental health strategy for Scotland: does it work for you? |
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| Monday, 31 October 2011 |
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In a new series of articles looking at issues surrounding mental health and recovery, health writer Emma Razi - who has a special interest in mental health - takes a look at how we can get involved in the new Scottish Government strategy consultation. There's also a chance to have your say with the latest SRN poll.
Gaining control over your life is a big part of recovery. There are some things however, that seem so out of our control, that to even consider having the tiniest amount of input seems ludicrous. Many people feel this way about Government policies and strategies that pop up every now and again. A journalist or news reader will sum-up the Government’s plans to change the service or support you receive. If you are anything like me – you will mutter to anyone within earshot that "what they should do is…; and provide more of…; and focus less on…" But that is usually as far as most people get. The truth is there is always a way to ensure your voice is heard and many organisations and professionals do provide feedback on the behalf of service users. However, there is nothing stopping individuals from responding to the Government’s plans, and with access to the Government’s website – making your voice heard has never been easier.  In September the Scottish Government published a draft strategy called ‘Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2011–2015’. The strategy outlines the Government’s plans for mental health improvement and prevention work and encourages everyone with an interest to provide feedback. On the day of the launch, Public Health Minister Michael Matheson stated: "We want to build on the successful mental health promotion, prevention and recovery work of recent years, ensure that people who experience mental health problems know how to access help and enable services to intervene quickly – putting the person, their family and carers at the centre of care and treatment." Carolyn Roberts, Head of Policy and Campaigns at SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) is pleased to see the publication of the draft: "SAMH has been campaigning for a new strategy for mental health since before the elections in May. So we’re pleased to see the publication of this strategy. It’s great that it’s very open, leaving lots of room for discussion." The strategy focuses on 14 outcomes for mental health improvement and prevention in Scotland. The first question the consultation asks is whether these are the right outcomes for an effective mental health system.  Carolyn believes the outcomes are too focused on NHS services: "SAMH is trying to get the Government to take a broader view of mental health and think about Education, the Criminal Justice System and Employment – as well as the NHS. Changes within these areas can have an effect on the mental health of Scotland. Between now and the closing date [of the consultation] in January, we'll be consulting our service users and other stakeholders to find out about their views and experiences." Mariam Rezayan is pleased to see the addition of an outcome that emphasises the role of family and carers. Mariam was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 2009 and regularly accesses services in Glasgow. Mariam explains: "I feel like I really need the combination of professional care and care from my family. My sister has been really important throughout my recovery. A conversation over a cup of tea or a walk in the park can make things click back into place in my head. She really annoys me when I’m having a crisis by getting me to do something like help her with her shopping or go with her to the gym. Once I’m feeling better I realise that she does this to distract me and get me out of bed – it works."  It is well accepted that family members and carers are key stakeholders in recovery but Mary Weir, Chief Executive of Support in Mind Scotland, would like to see more in the strategy about the provision of support for the carers themselves: "In order to be effective at caring – carers need to be supported in their own right. They don’t just need information, they don’t just need to be involved – to fulfil a meaningful caring role they need personal support too. "This is the case for all carers, but there are particular challenges when caring for someone with a serious mental illness. It can be very, very challenging and carers need support to do it well and to keep themselves well." As well as the role of carers, the outcomes within the strategy cover a host of topics including: the reduction of stigma and discrimination; the care of minority and hard to reach groups and workforce training. Mary Weir is also pleased to see the addition of an outcome that focuses on the importance of early detection and treatment of mental illness. Mary states: "Evidence shows that Early Intervention provides better outcomes for individuals and it is good to see the addition of an outcome in the Strategy that highlights this. The question we need to think about now is what could Early Intervention services look like and how will they work across Scotland?" Matthias Schwannauer, Head of Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh believes: "Early Intervention will need to be delivered in a clearly identified service model – including individual and family interventions and support, in both educational and vocational recovery." The strategy is clear that recovery approaches should be embedded within services and one of the outcomes states that ‘care and treatment should be focused on an individual’s ability to self-manage and recover’.  The Scottish Recovery Network promotes the concept of recovery and has developed the Scottish Recovery Indicator (SRI) to support services in promoting recovery-oriented practices. Mariam Rezayan is pleased that the strategy highlights recovery and self-management and hopes the Government work towards improving the resources available to support those who want to self manage. "I haven’t been provided with any self management resources as such and I think they would be really useful. I have been taught lots of self management techniques, but I still feel like I need to see someone to motivate me to use the techniques and encourage me from time to time. "I’ve heard about peer support too and think this is something I could benefit from." The mental health strategy acknowledges the role of peer support and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) but does not make any clear commitments to making both more widely available in Scotland. "Peer support is a creative and innovative way of supporting people with mental health problems. There are clear benefits to it and I think there is a place for it within mental health services," says Carolyn Roberts of SAMH. In summary, there has been lots of support for the new strategy and it has been generally well received. But it is still a draft and everyone has the opportunity to read it and put their views forward. So now it’s your turn! The consultation document can be downloaded from the Scottish Government’s website and the deadline for feedback is January 31st. If you would like to feedback – you do not need to answer all of the questions. You can pick the ones that you feel you want to answer and leave the rest blank. Opportunities to shape future mental health policy and practice are rare – so make sure and have your say. Don’t forget to tell us what you think in our new poll below. Comments (1)
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