Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: National Events

Resources to support the discussion process 'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland', along with the response form for the discussion, are now available from the resources section of the Well Scotland website.

Date: 30 January 2008 – 'Addressing Inequalities in Mental Health'
Venue:Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow

Date: 19 February 2008 – 'National Dialogue Event'
Venue: Perth Concert Hall, Perth 

The Scottish Government has issued a discussion paper outlining the proposed future direction for mental health improvement and population mental health for 2008-11. This builds on the work of the Scottish Government's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing (www.wellscotland.info) and is part of achieving the Government's wider strategic objectives and improving public health and wellbeing in Scotland over the next few years.

Two national events are being supported by the Scottish Government's National Programme to bring key stakeholders together in January and February to help with the process of discussion and the formulation of key actions for 2008-11.

The first event will focus on addressing inequalities and mental health (mental wellbeing, mental health problems, mental illness and suicide). This event will also help feed into the Government's Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities.

The second will be a national dialogue event. This will aim to bring together key representatives from local areas with key national stakeholders and others to help highlight and draw together local and national thoughts on the discussion document, the main themes and the key questions outlined in the discussion document .

Both these events are being organised by the Scottish Government's National Programme with support from NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health.

Further information on these two events and booking forms will be made available on www.wellscotland.info.

Please note that places for each of these events will be limited.

1. Inequalities and Mental Health Improvement (30 January 2008, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow) 80 places

This is an event designed to bring people together who have experience of working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and communities in the context of disadvantage, deprivation and other inequalities. The event will aim to identify and summarise what has been learnt and locally and nationally and suggest objectives and actions for the 2008-2011 mental health improvement forward plan that build on what we know in achieving real and practical progress in addressing inequalities in mental health and mental health problems, illness and suicide. The outcomes of the event will also be fed into the Scottish Government's Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities.

Who should participate?

The event aims to engage with those sectors that have a remit/responsibility to address inequalities through policy development and service delivery, for example Directors of Public Health; LA Health Improvement Officers; regeneration and economic development; social inclusion; Community Planning Partners; COSLA; SOLACE; Royal College of GPs; and the community and voluntary sector.

The event will have a plenary introduction to then be followed by working sessions. These will be structured around settings and life stages: communities; education and workplace; and public services. Each session will begin with a brief presentation of an example of current work, to catalyse discussion to help identify key practical actions that can be taken.

2. National Dialogue Event (19 February 2008, Perth Concert Hall) 120 places

This event will aim to bring together key representatives from local areas with key national stakeholders to highlight and draw together local and national perspectives on the discussion document, focusing on the main themes and the key questions posed in the document. The event will also provide people with the opportunity to share their thoughts at a national level and help in the production of local responses to the discussion document.

Who should participate?

The expectation is that each local area will be asked to bring or nominate a cross section of local people to participate in the event, along with other key national stakeholders.

Further information on these two events and booking forms will be made available soon on (www.wellscotland.info).