Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01611 · Session 5

Mental Health Services in Scotland

Closed Submitted 13 Jun 2016 Health
Signatures
0
270 online signatures with a country
Comments
26
Considered
4 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to improve access to mental health services in Scotland by—
1. Reducing the mental health waiting time target from 18 weeks to 14 weeks for adult therapies, and to 12 weeks for child and adolescent mental health services, and committing to ensuring 90% of patients begin treatment within these times;
2. Providing funding to ensure primary care staff receive additional training on supporting patients with mental health conditions; and
3. Providing funding for third sector organisations that deliver community based services, such as support groups, which can be accessed by patients whilst waiting for referral appointments.

What the petitioner did first

I met with Jamie Hepburn on 7 March 2016 at his surgery in Cumbernauld where I handed him a copy of my proposal, which forms the foundation of this petition. I also gave him the results from the survey I put in place. At the end of the meeting, he stated he would have someone from his office forward me further information on upcoming changes to accessing mental health services, but sadly I never received this and this has given me a further reason to petition the Parliament.
During February 2016, I conducted an online survey which I then shared over my social media pages. 35 people responded to the survey, which covered areas such as:
Whether respondents have spoken to their GP about a referral. If not, why not? If so, what happened next?
Whether referral was denied and, if so, why?
The length of time waited for an appointment post-referral.
If counselling/therapy was received, and if it was felt to be adequate.
Whether respondents were informed of any local support groups, and whether they feel there should be more such groups.
What more respondents feel could be done to reduce waiting times/take strain off the NHS.
These results are based on low response rates, but I believe that they still have value.
Results:
⅘ of those who approached their GP for a referral were referred.
Worryingly, several of those who were refused referral were not given a reason.
Half of those who were referred had to wait 6 months or longer for an appointment. This is not acceptable: those who have been referred are obviously deemed serious enough cases for referral, and 6 months is a long time for mental health issues to impact on somebody’s life with no treatment.
Half of respondents say that they were not given the appropriate number of sessions. This number should be determined on a case-by-case basis.
60% were not told of any support groups nearby. This is despite the fact that the majority believe that being informed of local support groups while waiting for therapy would help.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 27 Oct 2016
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 22 Nov 2016
    Health and Sport Committee
    Petition
    1 mention
  3. 23 Jan 2018
    Health and Sport Committee
    Petition
    1 mention
  4. 19 Feb 2019
    Health and Sport Committee
    Petitions
    3 mentions

Signatures by country

270 online signatures
  1. Scotland220 81.5%
  2. United Kingdom39 14.4%
  3. England6 2.2%
  4. Not given2 0.7%
  5. Luxembourg1 0.4%
  6. Canada1 0.4%
  7. Finland1 0.4%

Comments

26 comments, oldest first
  1. Deborah mcgrorty 13 Jun 2016
    We need this service
  2. Darren Young 14 Jun 2016
    More needs to be done to address this issue. Mental Health has always been on the backburner and never taken as seriously as physical health. Thankfully all the parties represented in the Scottish Parliament now realise this and had taken a stand to improve mental health services at the last election. We now need them all to come together and deliver on these promises.
  3. Carol harley 15 Jun 2016
    We need more help with mental health issues
  4. Kay Stephen 16 Jun 2016
    My Mum suffered from mental health problems.
  5. Diane Stewart 16 Jun 2016
    Third sector orgs compliment the NHS and can support people with reduced mental wellbeing and assist in reducing waiting lists permitting people who require a medicall input to be seen by professionals. Many people do not require medical input and benefit from support within a community framework.
  6. Ray Taylor 17 Jun 2016
    It should not be a postcode lottery ticket to whether you receive quick and relevant treatment for mental health issues. It should be standard practice made available throughout the country.
  7. William milligan 19 Jun 2016
    Put more funding into mental health to many old and young people are suffering it should be a priority
  8. Linda Kinniburgh 20 Jun 2016
    If waiting times for physical problems were as long as the waiting times for mental health issues there would have been a revolution by now. Please pass this petition on to friends and family and encourage them to sign up.
  9. Carol-Ann Blaikie 20 Jun 2016
    If people who desperately need help get it sooner rather than later, it might reduce, suicide attempts, self harming, depression, and crime.
  10. Gordon McGhee 24 Jun 2016
    We have to improve the care in mental health and waiting to long for a first consultation can be damaging to health.
  11. Christine Nicoletti 17 Jul 2016
    I suffer depression, anxiety and panic. I live in Glasgow. I recently had my medication changed and am struggling with side effects. Anxiety through the roof. I have struggled with depression, anxiety and panic for many years. Was on another medication until in began to fail in March of this year. Then the search for a different medication started.
  12. yvonne Allan 22 Jul 2016
    I was seeing a psychology senior charge nurse weekly for severe depression. The service was cutback. Now if lucky see him every two weeks. I am lucky to have these appointments. I know other people who are waiting months for first appointment.
  13. Megan McKeracher 22 Jul 2016
    We need to do more about eradicating the stigma that still surrounds mental health and really push for the promotion of charitable organisations within communities to help people receive some form of support while on these lengthy waiting lists. I volunteer for a local mental health organisation and we all do our very best in helping people stay connected within their community, which is so important for those who are isolated. I have also my own lived experience of mental health and I was very very fortunate to have a great support network of family, friends, work and therapy to help me manage my mental health, but what was most important is that I was the final piece of the jigsaw in order for me to get better, because I wanted to. It's really quite sad that people who are in complete despair with their mental health condition that may not have the support of family, work or friends, therefore become isolated and do not know how or where to look for help. Help those people by doing our bit and share our lived experiences through charitable organisations and give them self belief and empowerment to manage their mental health condition and to not lose faith in the NHS or private sector services who are trying their best to reduce the waiting lists.
  14. Nick Murby 22 Jul 2016
    It is so important that mental health services improve in Scotland, especially in young adults. The benefits of this can also influence the whole of society, not just the individual. This then leads to a happier, healthier society generally.
  15. Janet Crawford 22 Jul 2016
    I required support two years ago, local mental health charity were amazing.
  16. Helen mitchell 22 Jul 2016
    People need help and support much quicker than they do right now so many lives are lost due to the wait for an appointment.
  17. Elaine glen 22 Jul 2016
    Keep mental health services available. We need them. Simple as that.
  18. Keith Blake 23 Jul 2016
    You Have To Do More.
  19. Mark Wright 23 Jul 2016
    All because it's unseen, it doesn't mean it's not there.
  20. Jeanette Pender 24 Jul 2016
    Fully support this extremely necessary action.
  21. Ian johnstone 25 Jul 2016
    Support this so much as I've got mental health issues and gets ignored by government and health professionals as well.
  22. Maggie K 25 Jul 2016
    I sign a declaration to this petition. I want changes made to help others batteling mental illness
  23. Louise Hislop 25 Jul 2016
    This is a worthwhile cause and closer to a lot of people than you may think. Well done angela
  24. Ruth mccutcheon 25 Jul 2016
    It is amazing what you are doing so many people out there that don't think about everything that goes on with people around us raising awareness to this is honestly amazing well done x
  25. Gina M 26 Jul 2016
    So many ppl going through this and getting no help. Things need to change and sooner rather than later.
  26. lynn gardner 27 Jul 2016
    Mental health affects us all need to b able to get help