29 January 2018

The Health and Social Care Partnership has published the Scottish Borders Mental Health Strategy 2017.

The strategy provides a framework for the delivery of mental health activities in the Borders for all age groups and has been developed in line with relevant national strategies and the Partnership’s Strategic Plan 2016-19.

It aims to promote good mental health and wellbeing for all while respecting, protecting and supporting people with mental health issues and mental illness to live well. It also recognises the importance of supporting and valuing families and carers as well as promoting partnership between services and the population they service. Key priorities include:

  • making services more accessible and developing a positive image of mental health in local communities
  • improving prevention and early intervention support services
  • reducing avoidable admissions to hospital
  • providing person centred, effective, recovery focused care close to home
  • delivering services within an integrated care model
  • enabling people to have more choice and control
  • optimising efficiency and effectiveness of services
  • reducing health inequalities
  • improving support for carers to keep them healthy and able to continue their caring role.

The strategy was developed with the involvement of a range of stakeholders including service users, carers, community members and a range of professionals working across the statutory and third sectors. A series of consultation events were held to give people the opportunity to contribute to the future strategic direction of mental health in the Borders, with good attendance at the events that resulted in a strong and representative contribution.

Dr Stephen Mather, Chair of the Integration Joint Board, said: “As set out in the foreword to the strategy, there is evidence to suggest that there are potentially 19,800 adults and 1,898 children and young people in the Borders who will experience mental ill health at some point in their lives. Depression and anxiety are the most common but others include eating disorders, personality disorders and schizophrenia. These figures are only an estimate based on the numbers of people known to services; the reality may be much higher as many people do not seek assistance.

“What this strategy does is to set out what the response will be here in the Borders in terms of providing the support that people experiencing mental ill health need. I welcome its publication and the commitment that it represents in terms of making sure that there is a range of services available, not just for service users themselves but also for the carers who play such a vital role in supporting them.”

An implementation plan is now being developed to ensure that the objectives identified in the strategy will be delivered. This will be overseen by the Mental Health Board which is made up of representatives from Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, the Third Sector and service users and carers.

The strategy is available to download here.