LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Fly-tip punishment should fit the crime – and do we really understand 'emotional health'?

Does punishment fit the crime?

Fly tipping and littering have been epidemic for many years and of the 60,000 reported incidents in 2022 only 8 resulted in a prosecution. The SNP have been in charge since 2007 but have achieved nothing.

The Private Members Bill that Murdo Fraser MSP is presenting to the Scottish Assembly is long overdue. CCTV and dash cams should have been used to catch fly tippers and litter louts. The courts should impose eye-watering fines and for repeat offenders, prison. We were told 50 years ago that to stop litter we needed education, education, education. That did not work so let’s try punishment, punishment, punishment.

Clark Cross

Springfield Road

Linlithgow

RELATED: Fly-tipping stats give pause for thought for Highland campaigners

Is emotional health truly understood?

As World Health Day (April 7) approaches, its focus topic is ‘health for all’. We are highly privileged with access to healthcare though the NHS and it is worth recognising how fortunate we are compared to other, low-income or developing countries with vulnerable populations.

But we mustn’t forget the importance of both mental and emotional health as well as the physical. Mental health being the way we ‘think’ and emotional health being the way we ‘feel’. The two, are intrinsically linked.

In the UK, mental health first aiders are still not compulsory in the workplace, merely recommendations, not legislation.

These trained individuals can help people experiencing varying degrees of worsening mental health issues and create a safe space for them, equipped to signpost them onto further relevant support.

Few organisations promote the right of employees to take a ‘mental health day’ as equally as they might a sick day – even though this is, in fact, law. Every so often we can find accumulated stresses have reached a point where we feel, if not dealt with immediately, will tip us over the edge and we risk lashing out at those around us, or falling apart into complete burnout.

We’re in a very advantageous position of access to healthcare in this country, despite backlogs. However, we still have a way to go for our mental and emotional health to be more understood and accessible to our nation. The government and employers must help with this – and prioritise it.

This World Health Day I’d like to see our mindset treated with the same respect and understanding a broken leg or terminal illness might receive self-care. See vanessaloves.life to find out more about how you can implement vital self-care.

Vanessa Louise Moore

Emotional health coach