Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland Resources

Information to support the discussion process and events for the proposed future direction of mental health improvement and population mental health for 2008-11.

For a summary of the discussion document Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland click here.

For further information on national events please see our news section.

Please note that by clicking the links below you may be taken to organisations outside the Scottish Government.

National Event Reports

Two National Events brought together key stakeholders to help with the discussion and formulation of key actions for Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland 2008-11. The Inequalities and Mental Health Improvement event was held in Glasgow on the 30th January, while the National Dialogue Event was held in Perth on the 19th February. The full reports from both these events can be seen below.

Interactive Resources

To listen to a podcast of Dr Corey Keyes giving a presentation on How Scotland can Flourish: Improving the Mental Wellbeing of People Living in Scotland please click here. The podcast can be used to support the discussion process.

View a short video of Gregor Henderson introducing the consultation by covering main themes and suggested actions here.

Resources

Developing Social Prescribing and Community Referrals for Mental Health in Scotland.
Published by Scottish Government.

Considers the use of non-medical interventions (community referrals or social prescribing) to improve mental health in primary care. In particular developing effective identification and response to people with common mental health problems and the role of primary care in supporting people with long term mental health problems.

Resource Paper for Community Health Partnerships: Promoting mental health, Preventing common mental health problems.
Published by Scottish Government.

Intended as a resource for Community Health Partnerships. Contains information to enhance understanding of mental health promotion and prevention at primary care level, assist in developing a local mental health promotion and prevention agenda and identify practical steps to improve the mental health and well being of local populations.

With Inclusion in Mind: The local authority's role in promoting wellbeing and social development.
Published by Scottish Government.

The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, which came into force in October 2005, places a clear statutory duty on the local authority to promote wellbeing and social development for those who have, or have had, a mental disorder. This document provides guidance and best practice and includes tools to enable local authorities to understand and fulfil their duties under Sections 25-31 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland Act 2003).

View online.

Mental Health Improvement: Evidence Based Message to Promote Mental Wellbeing.
Published by NHS Scotland. View online

Evaluates the strength of evidence for mental health improvement messages. Also establishes the views of the public and professionals on what are sometimes called 'positive steps' for mental health. Includes a literature review and original qualitative research.

Mental Health Promotion: Building an Economic Case.
Published by the Nothern Ireland Association for Mental Health. View online.

Develops the argument for greater investment in the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness. Shows that preventing mental ill health and improving mental health has considerable economic benefit.

Mental Health at Work: Developing the Business Case.
Published by The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. View Online.

Policy paper examining the cost of mental ill health at work to employers through absenteeism, productivity and staff turnover. Concludes that considerable benefits to mental well being can be made through employers putting into practice steps including prevention and early identification of problems.

Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan: References to Mental Health

The Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan was launched by the Scottish Government in December 2007. It sets out a five year action plan aimed at creating a mutual NHS, helping people to sustain and improve their health, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and ensuring better, local and faster access to health care.

This doument provides a digest of the specific references made in Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan to mental health, mental wellbeing, mental health problems and mental illness.

To access the full report on Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan click here.

Addressing Mental Health Inequalities in Scotland: Equal Minds: National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being

This working paper was commissioned by the National Programme to develop the discussion areas covered at the Equal Minds conference held in Edinburgh in October 2003. The three main questions at this conference were:
How does being a woman or a man, being young or old, or from an ethnic minority community affect mental health?
How does poverty and deprivation affect well-being?
What does having a mental health problem have on the chances of being discriminated against?

View Online

Discussion documents

Full version of the discussion document

Letter accompanying the discussion document

Guidance notes for local areas

Respondent form

Easy Read Versions

Mental Wellbeing in Scotland Have Your Say.

An easy to read version of the discussion document Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland

Cantonese translation

Polish Translation

National Reference Group

National Reference Group for Mental Health Improvement
Role, Remit, Membership and Work Plan

A National Reference Group has been set up to play a key national advisory and support role to the Scottish Government in considering responses to the discussion document and providing advice on the next stages of work on mental health improvement and population mental health.

The Role, Remit, Membership and Work Plan is outlined in the document below.