A Mentally Flourishing Scotland

'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: The Future of Mental Health Improvement in Scotland 2008-11' is a discussion document building on the work of the Scottish Government's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing.

The document outlines the proposed future direction for mental health improvement and population mental health for 2008-11.

In setting the future direction, the paper focuses on what Local Authorities, NHS Boards and other key stakeholders can do to support the agenda for 2008-11. It asks for views on these suggestions and on the support that you think may be required nationally and locally to help meet these suggested actions.

Mental health improvement and population mental health work have advanced considerably in Scotland since 2001 and Scotland is now recognised internationally for its work. There are areas of excellence and we need to build on these and do even more, especially to address inequalities and to ensure that the mental health and wellbeing of Scotland's people flourishes.

This work forms part of the Scottish Government's wider health and wellbeing ambitions for a Healthier Scotland and is integral to addressing health and social inequalities. The future direction also adds to and complements a range of policies, not just on health and wellbeing, but for achieving the wider strategic objectives of the Scottish Government.

The proposals signal a shift in emphasis and focus from national activity to local actions. In making this shift, a number of suggested actions for local areas have been proposed.

There are three key questions to consider:

What shared objectives and actions for local delivery should be made for 2008-11 that would be deliverable, measurable and valuable?

What national supports would help you to meet these objectives and actions?

How can progress be tracked and performance assessed?

Downloads

Download the accompanying letter

Download the full version of the discussion document

Discussions will take place over the next few months until the end of February 2008. Following local and national discussions on these suggested actions and supports, an Action Plan will be developed by the Scottish Government for national and local implementation from April 2008 until March 2011.