'Here to help' pledge as NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service team up on campaign ahead of World Mental Health Day
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"You’re not alone with your mental health. We’re here to help you."
This is the clear message coming from NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance service as they launch a new campaign to support mental health and wellbeing for people across Scotland in time for World Mental Health Day on October 10.
The Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness of a range of mental health information and services that support mental health.
It’s been developed to support wider partnership working between NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance service as part of a joint response to the Scottish Government Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027.
Over the past 18 months, the three organisations have been working together to develop new ways to support people in mental health distress when they contact their services.
"We really want people in mental health distress to know that they are not alone. Our team are here to help those getting in touch with our services with a compassionate response." - Stephanie Philips, NHS 24
NHS 24 has created a new 24/7 Mental Health Hub that provides support for those contacting the 111 service. In addition, people calling Police Scotland in mental health distress are also now offered access to the 111 Mental Health Hub service. Collaboration work with Scottish Ambulance Service is also under way to develop a similar pathway.
Under the banner 'Together Let's Care for your Mental Health' the partners are able to signpost to a range of self-help guides and options for further support at www.nhsinform.scot/youmatterwecare . This campaign page also offers additional information for a range of day to day concerns such as anxiety, depression, young people's mental health needs, alcohol, gambling and drug use.
NHS 24 offers a range of mental health services in addition to the 111 Mental Health Hub, including Breathing Space’s telephony and web chat services, NHS inform self-help guides, and Living Life’s CBT service.
Stephanie Philips, director of service delivery at NHS 24, said: "We are pleased to be working together with Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service to provide the best possible outcomes for people in mental health distress. We are able to support many of those who come into contact with our services to find support and self-care options in their own communities but we are also absolutely reinforcing the message that if you need help now there are a range of services available to you.
"We really want people in mental health distress to know that they are not alone. Our team are here to help those getting in touch with our services with a compassionate response.”
Mental health minister Clare Haughey said: “I doubt there is a single one of us who has not thought about our own mental health and wellbeing at some point over the past few months. In many ways, the pandemic has helped to destigmatise mental health, and reminded us that it is okay not to feel okay. More people have been asking each other how they are doing and the importance of good mental health is clear.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have invested £6 million of additional funding to support the population’s mental health, including £2.1 million to expand the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Round the clock, trained practitioners at NHS 24 will offer callers a compassionate and empathic listening service based on the principles of psychological first aid, as well as advice, signposting and onward referral to local services if required.”
Police Scotland assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie (Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing) said: "Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for Police Scotland as part of our statutory requirement to improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities.
"Much of the demand on the organisation now comes from incidents which no longer result in a crime report being raised, such as people in distress or experiencing a mental health crisis. Calls of this nature can come to the police from concerned family and friends, passers-by, and other agencies, as well as individuals themselves.
"Police Scotland has recently completed the national roll-out of a new way of assessing calls to its 101 and 999 service to improve the way we respond to contact from the public. Where appropriate, we engage in partnerships with colleagues around the country in health, social care and third sector organisations to help people to access the most suitable support at the appropriate time."
Frances Dodd, director for care quality and professional development for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners in NHS 24 and Police Scotland on Together Let’s Care. Integrated working across services on issues like mental health means we can deliver a joined up approach to supporting patients and working together to deliver improved care for those suffering mental health across Scotland.
“The Together Let’s Care campaign is designed to assist patients to access the right mental health services first time, and allow health professionals, Police and community-based staff to further enhance the support and services currently in place. This campaign increases signposting to a wide variety of self-help guides with the aim to support clinicians improve mental health outcomes by increasing access to specialists and services within local communities.
“It's so important for all of us to be mindful of our mental health and wellbeing, address mental health issues early and seek help if needed. This service is one part of the system that will ensure we as a community can help identify and address mental health issues early, enabling people to find pathways to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.”
