Earlier today Miles Briggs MSP for Lothians joined the party leader and MSP for Central Edinburgh, Ruth Davidson, as she launched the new mental health policy. This demands a step change in support for those suffering from mental ill health.
What they would like to see is that mental health is treated in the same manner as physical health, and they would like another £300 million to deal with it. A recent report showed that a fifth of those with mental health issues were not seen within the 18 week treatment time target.
You can read the whole policy document here:
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Open in new tab Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“For too long there’s been a failure to recognise mental health issues as being just as urgent and debilitating as physical injuries.
“As we stated in our manifesto in May, there needs to be a step change in the amount of support we currently offer to those suffering from mental ill health.
“That is why we are calling for an extra £300 million to be spent over the course of this parliament on improving services, and ensuring that no one has to wait too long to receive treatment.
“With the Scottish Government’s 10-year mental health strategy due to be published next year, we hope these ideas will help inform the debate about how we achieve the most effective strategy possible.
“We need a vibrant and far reaching debate on these issues to ensure that Scots have access to the best possible mental health services that we can provide.”
Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman Miles Briggs said:
“Since May we have been speaking to a wide range of mental health organisations and charities to discuss what would be the best way to improve services in Scotland.
“Their views have helped us shape our new strategy, and we believe that these measures could make a significant difference to those suffering from mental ill health.
“It is clear that more needs to be done to improve capacity and staffing across the health service and address the unacceptable waiting times for treatment.
“We now hope that SNP ministers will listen to these proposals and consider them ahead of the publication of the new mental health strategy next year.”
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