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Voluntary Health Scotland

The national intermediary and network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland.

One Goal Many Voices Unlimited Potential

One Goal Many Voices Unlimited Potential

We are the national intermediary and network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland

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You are here: Home / Health Topics / Mental Health

Mental Health

One in four people may experience a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.

In 2015 VHS began exploring what smaller voluntary health organisations had to say about mental health. They told us their role is to ‘catch those people who have often fallen through the gaps of mainstream services or support.’ That led VHS to significant and ongoing work in relation to loneliness, social isolation and mental health. Together with our members we played an important role in helping to shape the Scottish Government’s loneliness and social isolation strategy, A Connected Scotland (published December 2018) and VHS is an active member of the Scottish Government Implementation Group. In 2019 we started a new piece of work in collaboration with Support in Mind Scotland, to shine a light on the very neglected area of older people and mental illness (beyond dementia).

Useful resources

Key Messages: Mental Wellbeing, Social Isolation and Loneliness in Rural Scotland, March 2019

CPG on Health Inequalities: Loneliness and Social Isolation, Minutes 31 January 2019

CPG on Health Inequalities: Mental Health in Rural Scotland, Minutes 30 October 2018

Key Messages: Mental Health and Wellbeing Focus Group, June 2015

 

Related News and Blogs


Claire’s Blog: Building Forward Better for the Health and Care Workforce

07/11/2020

As Chief Executive of VHS I am reflecting back on this week’s annual conference Building Forward Better for Health and Wellbeing  (4-5 November 2020). A clear message that emerged was that levels of stress, anxiety, exhaustion and burn-out are fast ris …


Mairi’s Blog: Now, more than ever, we’re here to listen

29/10/2020

Samaritans are here to listen for anyone who needs us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions we’re all taking to contain it changed all our lives, this space to listen has become more vital than ever. Volun …


Lesley’s Blog: Support for Survivors of Rape and Childhood Sexual Abuse

05/05/2020

Break The Silence   provides professional support for survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse aged 13+ across East and North Ayrshire. We provide a range of support tailored to the individual’s need: counselling, complementary therapies, group act …


Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Discussion Paper and Evidence

04/03/2020

Since 2019 VHS has collaborated with Support in Mind Scotland and colleagues from across the third and public sectors, to scope what happens to people with mental health conditions other than or alongside dementia once they become 65. Issues we have be …


Linda’s Blog: The IMPACT of Smoking on Mental Health

15/01/2020

At the start of every New Year, many people decide that they’ll quit smoking – a great idea and one which can bring both physical and financial benefits.  At the start of a new decade, there’s perhaps even more impetus to do so: a determination to addr …

Older Stories

Messages and Learning

Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Discussion Paper and Evidence


Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Key Learnings


Key Messages: Mental wellbeing, social isolation and loneliness in rural Scotland


Conference Key Messages: Tomorrow’s World Today


Key Messages: Stirling Mental Health and Social Support Seminar


Show All

Related events

Ageing Well: 2nd Virtual Talk with the Open University


Falling off a cliff at 65: mental health in later life – second round table


Falling off a cliff at 65: mental health in later life


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