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
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 …
Key Messages: Mental wellbeing, social isolation and loneliness in rural Scotland
11/03/2019

VHS presented this one hour workshop at The Gathering on 20th February 2019, in partnership with the Scottish Rural Health Partnership which is hosted by the University of Highlands and Islands. The aim was to shine a light on mental health issues dist …
Minister for Mental Health meets Health Inequalities CPG
05/11/2018

Clare Haughey MSP made a welcome return to the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities on 30th October, this time in her role as Minister for Mental Health. Previously a Co-Convenor and active member of the CPG, the Minister happily agreed to VHS publ …