The Scottish Government has published its monitoring report outlining progress towards Scotland’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy outcomes, and an accompanying monitoring framework.
Overall, the report presents a mixed picture. While some indicators show early signs of improvement, progress is uneven and mental health inequalities remain persistent.
Women, younger adults, people living in the most deprived areas, and people with limiting long-term conditions consistently report poorer outcomes across multiple indicators.
Gaps in data
The report identifies gaps in data in some key areas, including perinatal services, services supporting neurodivergent people, and forensic mental health. Data is also lacking on experiences and wellbeing of the NHS mental health workforce, including areas such as staff morale, burnout, and job satisfaction.
Yana Yaneva, chair of the BPS Scottish Branch, said:
“It’s clear from the report that there is still much work to be done. Momentum must not be lost on delivery of this vital strategy and its vision of ‘a Scotland, free from stigma and inequality, where everyone fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible’.”
Among other findings, the report highlights that CAMHS waiting times have improved and the 18-week standard has been consistently met since late 2024; however, there is still work to be done on improving waiting times for adults; and delayed discharges from mental health inpatient settings have increased.
‘Mental health in all policies’ approach
When the strategy was launched, the BPS welcomed among other aspects, its focus on the mental health workforce and a ‘mental health in all policies’ approach, saying that mental health does not sit in isolation and that factors such as poverty, housing and employment can all have an impact on people’s mental wellbeing.
So, the Society is disappointed that there remains no routinely collected information that tracks the adoption of this ‘mental health in all policies’ approach to ensure it is actually delivered in practice; nor are there metrics to assess whether mental health policies, support, care, and treatment are better informed and shaped by people with lived experience of mental health issues and staff practitioners.
Yana Yaneva added:
“Psychological expertise already makes crucial contributions to developing policies and designing and delivering public services that are inclusive, effective, person-centred and evidence-based, but can contribute much more if given the opportunity and resource across services. We urge the next Scottish Government to ensure this is reflected in the next Delivery Plan, due post-election.”
Find out more
Read the monitoring report and framework: Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Initial Monitoring Report and Monitoring Framework .
