Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Board: update - September 2025

2. Framing the Plan - whole systems renewal

We want the next version of the Plan to take us closer to the Vision and Outcomes as set out in the Strategy, but also, as agreed in our underlying principles, contribute towards cross-portfolio work and wider whole systems working. In shaping the Plan we intend to consider several factors. Health and Social Care Reform As previously discussed with the Board, the Plan will not exist in isolation. It will sit within the context of the wider vision for health and social care reform in Scotland. Key to this reform are three interconnected documents published over the course of 2025:

• The NHS Operational Improvement Plan which focuses on improving access to treatment, shifting the balance of care and a stronger focus on prevention.
• The Population Health Framework which similarly prioritises early intervention, prevention and reducing health inequalities.
• The Service Renewal Framework which provides a long-term vision for a more local, personal and effective health and social care system, again emphasising a shift towards prevention, early intervention and taking a person-centred approach.

Together, these documents lay out our approach to whole system reform, ensuring long term sustainability, reducing health inequalities and further harnessing the benefits of digital technology to improve population health outcomes in Scotland. These documents collectively emphasise a focus on prevention and early intervention and the need for care to be provided close to communities. Whilst seeking to ensure the balance of actions reflect the range of levels of care provided, we will seek to reflect these principles in the refreshed actions. Social Determinants

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy recognises the importance of the social determinants of mental health, a message that has been re-iterated during engagement on the plan refresh. We recognise, for example, the profound two-way relationship between mental health and poverty, with each influencing the other. In considering actions for the plans we know that many of the levers to impact social determinants are beyond our direct control. However, we remain committed to ensuring that the importance of mental health is recognised and integrated in cross government/society efforts to drive forward relevant action; and will work to identify discrete actions that bring together mental health and wider policies that impact on social determinants. Whilst these actions may just be part of a much broader effort, it is important that they strengthen this connection and represent a further shift towards prevention and early intervention.

Workforce A range of workforce related initiatives are also underway which would support the delivery of priorities in the refreshed Plan, as well as these wider health and social care reforms. These include:

• Implementation of the Nursing and Midwifery taskforce recommendations
• Anchors workstream - supporting the health and social care system to diversify the workforce and support “earn as you learn” models
• Future Medical Workforce Project – a commitment to take forward this work which will take into account what patients and the public want and need from their health service, and ensuring the attractiveness of medical careers.