Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Board: update - September 2025

Annex A - Summary of high level feedback to date on actions being included in next Delivery Plan

1. Tackle stigma and Priority

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Stigma reduction (especially in underrepresented groups).
• Addressing structural, cultural and institutional stigma.
• Improving accessibility through inclusive service design.

Contribution to wider Health & Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Prevention
• People

Population Health Framework

• Prevention focused system
• Social and economic factors
• Enable healthy living
• Equitable health and care

Current actions that may continue into the refreshed Delivery Plan:

• A consolidated action on tackling stigma based on existing actions giving consideration to if and how the stigma collaborative and its associated actions will be taken forward (1.1.2-1.1.3)

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Normalise MH discussions in minority ethnic and older people. (EHRF)
• Tackle structural stigma (EHRF)
• Prioritise ‘a stronger preventative approach’ (DCAF)
• Acknowledge the interdependencies between adult and child mental health (DCAF)
• Improve culturally sensitive and inclusive provision (EHRF)
• Improve links to mental health support during perimenopause (WHP Engagement)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Mental Health Patient Experience Survey – next steps

2. Improve population mental health and wellbeing

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Tackling root causes (poverty, housing, social determinants).
• Promoting preventative, community-based approaches.
• Less medicalised responses.
• Use of technology and patient choice.

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Prevention
• People
• Community
• Digital

Population Health Framework

• Prevention focused system
• Social and economic factors
• Places and communities
• Enable healthy living
• Equitable health and care

NHS Operational Improvement Plan

• Shifting the balance of care
• Improving digital access

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Social determinant
• Supporting people into and at work.
• Review, update and promote mental health and wellbeing learning resources for frontline services.
• Social media, body image, screen time resources.
• Wider promotion of public health messaging
• Promote digital resources for prevention, including for specific populations.
• Improving digital access and support.
• Building on the mental health in schools working group.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Work with housing networks and existing mental health and housing groups to support the consideration of mental health needs within social housing (COSLA Engagement)
• Work with No-One Left Behind to support mental health in the employability space (COSLA Engagement)
• Work with those responsible for key policy documents aligned to the social determinants of mental health. Supporting understanding of levers within their work to positively/ negatively impact mental health utilising learning to produce a tool to support ongoing policy making (COSLA Engagement)
• Develop a communications plan that highlights training and where and when to access support for the public and professionals (COSLA Engagement)
• Implementation support for key learning resources (COSLA Engagement)
• Develop mechanisms that support quality assurance of nationally and locally commissioned digital resources (COSLA Engagement)
• Develop a resource for parents on digital access for children and young people (COSLA Engagement)
• Work with community planning networks to share key mental health messaging and developments (COSLA Engagement)
• Using evaluation results of programmes to share good practice (specifically early intervention and prevention) (EHRF)
• Further develop mechanisms for collecting and using disaggregated data to measure impact of interventions (EHRF)
• Targeted gender actions on social media/body image (EHRF)
• Cross reference relevant policies/interventions in relation to physical environment and socioeconomic deprivation (DCAF)
• Consider policy overlap areas such as Bairns Hoose, Child Protection, Secure Care, Keeping the Promise and early child development (DCAF)
• Consider role of social workers (DCAF)
• Public communication plan to highlight community and psychological support (NES)
• Explicit mention of trauma informed practice in preventative actions (NES)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Learning Provision Review
• Peer support - build on the review of peer support in mental health undertaken by Scottish Recovery Network (DP 2.3.1 and 2.3)

3. Increase capacity in primary care and community supports

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Increased capacity in primary care and community services.
• Use of technology and patient choice.
• Peer support and lived experience integration.

Gaps that still need addressed

• Building trust in community services

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Prevention
• People
• Community

Population Health Framework

• Prevention focused system
• Places and communities
• Enable healthy living
• Equitable health and care

NHS Operational Improvement Plan

• Shifting the balance of care
• Improving digital access

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Communities fund for adults via Third Sector Interfaces (TSI).
• Promotion of community-based interventions.
• Supporting rural mental health.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Increase capacity and training in primary care to deliver person centred care (EHRF)
• Increased capacity for tier 1 and 2 services particularly for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (PHS)
• Data capture from school nursing services to develop support pathways (PHS)
• Review existing community and primary care workforce to identify opportunities and challenges (NES)
• Increase capacity of community supports and services for children and adults (COSLA Engagement)
• Community link workers (DEAP/EHRF)
• Develop a ‘service passport’ with key details, including mental health, could be used to help healthcare professionals deliver a more tailored experience while minimising the risk of re-traumatisation (WHP engagement)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Expansion/ improvement of Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund for Adults
• Student mental health

4. Expand support for people in distress and crisis

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Strengthening crisis care pathways, ensuring their availability.
• Expanding 'Time, Space and Compassion' principles.

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Prevention
• People
• Community
• Digital

Population Health Framework

• Prevention focused system
• Social and economic factors
• Places and communities
• Enable healthy living
• Equitable health and care

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Work with key partners and Lived Experience Panels (LEPs) to create and promote self-harm and crisis resources, including for specific seldom heard and at-risk communities.
• The suicide action plan actions are being developed separately.
• Continued implementation of Self-harm Strategy (action plan ends in 2027).
• Embed and sustain DBI across Scotland.
• Increasing learning and resources for children, young people and families experiencing distress.
• Social support for at risk groups (specifically homeless)
• Understanding and awareness raising of the mental health harms related to gambling.
• Tailored messaging around mental health and wellbeing for specific populations.
• Respond to the recommendations in the Policing and Mental Health review

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Ensure availability of appropriate support for child and young people in significant distress/crisis that do not currently meet CAMHs Criteria (COSLA Engagement)
• Promote Outdoor Programmes for trauma recovery: group activities, such as walking clubs, community gardening projects or more focused mental health interventions that provide safe, social, and inclusive environments for women to engage in movement, self-development and connection with nature (WHP engagement)
• Establish specialist women’s health champions within mental health services – including peer-led training and knowledge sharing (WHP engagement)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Improving our collective responses to people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage
• Addressing underlying reasons behind high intensity usage of the emergency services for mental health and or distress
• Safe Spaces – next steps
• Publication of Psychiatric Emergency Plans (PEP) national guidance
• Unscheduled Care Tailored Messaging

5. Develop a collective approach to mental health inequalities

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Tackling root causes and social determinants.

Gaps that still need addressed

• Addressing cultural and psychological barriers to access.
• Inclusive and culturally sensitive provision.
• Support for unpaid carers.

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Prevention
• People

Population Health Framework

• Prevention focused system
• Social and economic factors
• Enable healthy living
• Equitable health and care

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• A specific action around social determinants of mental health.
• Veterans mental health access and support.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• System mapping exercise focussed on wider determinants of health for children and young people (PHS)
• Consider mental health awareness in wider public service workforces (NES)
• Adopting a life course approach, support more collaborative working across Gynaecology, Primary Care and Psychology, particularly to support women with preexisting diagnosed mental health conditions and menstrual health and menopause (WHP engagement)

6. Improve support across all mental health services

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Ongoing work to improve access to CAMHS and Psychological Therapies.
• Reducing waiting times and improving outcomes.

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Population
• Digital

Population Health Framework

• Equitable health and care

NHS Operational Improvement Plan

• Improving access – CAMHS waiting times backlogs

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Future planning in Boards for CAMHS and PT waiting times.
• Consistent and effective engagement with NHS Boards.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Strengthen information sharing across sectors to ensure support, at right time from right people (Education Scotland)
• Psychological interventions for the workforce (NES)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Improvement support for escalated NHS Boards
• Support for regional CAMHS in implementing the service specification
• Target operating model for mental health services
• NHS community mental health services innovation fund – focus on enhanced community models and regional/local priorities like inequalities
• NHS Community mental health services specification

7. Ensure quality care and treatment

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Embedding lived experience in service delivery
• Implementing recommendations from Mental Health nursing review
• Implementing recommendations from Psychiatry Working Group
• Promoting recovery and independence

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• People
• Community
• Population

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Supporting NHS Boards to plan national and regional Mental Health services. Including workforce plans.
• Holistic support for specialist Children and Young People Mental Health services, in line with Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC).

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Adults with Incapacity Reform Bill
• Mental Health Law reform work
• Mental health and substance use support
• Mental Health Built Environment Assessment
• Establishing a national Strategic Oversight Group to support coherence across NHS Boards in the planning and delivery of Mental Health Services
• Further development and action from MHW workforce education and training advisory group
• Workforce data improvement project

8. Improve support for forensic mental health

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Establishing forensic governance solutions
• Delivering female forensic services at The State Hospital

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• People
• Population

Population Health Framework

• Equitable health care

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Planning and governance of forensic services.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Gendered action on forensic mental health (women) (EHRF)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Improving forensic mental health support for counter terrorism
• Streamlining processes impacting on access to and progress through forensic mental health services
• Delivering Barron recommendations and taking forward engagement on the forensic recommendations of the Scott review

9. Strengthen neurodevelopmental support pathways

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Improving neurodevelopmental care pathway
• Partnership working across sectors (health, education, social care)

Gaps that still need addressed

• Expand neurodevelopmental support for all

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• People
• Population

Population Health Framework

• Social and economic factors
• Enable healthy living

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Neurodevelopmental pathways and an adult neurodevelopmental service specification.
• Taking forwards actions from the review of the C&YP Neurodevelopmental service specification.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Upskilling of parents, schools, community and tier 1 and 2 services to support ND children. (PHS)
• Improve data collection including waiting times for neurodevelopmental services (NES).
• Deliver medium term actions from the review of the children and young people’s Neurodevelopmental specification (COSLA Engagement)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Designing learning/training for health and social care on disability, autism and neurodivergence
• Changing Places Toilets
• ADHD policy and support

10. Reduce risk of poor mental health in adulthood

Priority areas of focus as previously agreed by Leadership Board:

• Trauma-informed approaches from early years
• Supporting physical health of people with mental health conditions

Contribution to wider Health and Social Care Reform:

Service Renewal Framework

• Prevention
• People
• Community

Population Health Framework

• Prevention focused system
• Social and economic factors
• Enable healthy living

Current actions that may continue into refresh Delivery Plan:

• Prevention work in infancy and early childhood.
• Providing mental health and wellbeing support for new parents.
• Supporting survivors in accessing care.

Policy options received from stakeholders:

• Support mental health at key transition points (COSLA Engagement)
• Take action to support workforce wellbeing (COSLA Engagement)
• Learning from perinatal programme evaluation reports (PHS)
• Minimising risk at critical stages and transitions (PHS)
• Strengthen a GIRFEC approach to ensure a needs led provision (Education Scotland)
• Consider pre-natal as a key group of people that could be supported (Education Scotland)
• Investment in evidence based parenting approaches (NES)

Additional ideas received from policy leads:

• Cross-policy work to raise awareness of the impact of psychological trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)