A charity is calling for a new mental health treatment guarantee in Scotland, after polling revealed over half of Scots fear they would not get quick access to mental health support if they went to their GP for help.

A “critical shift” to population-wide prevention measures when it comes to mental health is needed, according to the Mental Health Foundation, which warns an upsurge in mental distress is looming in Scotland in the wake of covid-19.

Last month a government mental health funding pledge – what ministers called ‘the single largest investment in mental health since devolution’ – received a lukewarm response with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland saying it was still not enough to deal with a significant rise in demand, particularly when it came to children and adolescent mental health services.

While some public health experts have lauded a more cautious approach in Scotland compared to England when it comes to easing pandemic restrictions, warnings over the mental health toll of lockdown are becoming more fervent.

In a manifesto it wants MSPs to back going into the Holyrood election in May, the Mental Health Foundation is urging action to deal with the root causes of poor mental health, including poverty.

A YouGov survey of over 1,000 adults in Scotland, commissioned by the charity, found just 15% are satisfied with current measures to reduce poverty in Scotland and only 23% are satisfied with measures to support people experiencing financial difficulties.

The survey also found more than half of adults in Scotland are not confident they would receive timely access to support if they went to their GP for help with their mental health.

Services are “stretched-beyond-capacity” in Scotland and a new mental health guarantee is needed to ensure that people with mild to moderate mental health problems are referred within six weeks to appropriate community support, the Foundation says.

Community support would include programmes like social prescribing, exercise referral schemes, peer support groups, and talking therapies like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.  

Under half of those surveyed said they were likely to seek professional help for their mental health, but more than two thirds said they would seek help for a mild to moderate mental health problem if there was a guarantee they would get access to ‘appropriate and timely support’.

Lee Knifton, Director of Mental Health Foundation Scotland, says Scotland is heading into a deepening crisis:

“The next Scottish government could face a huge upsurge in people seeking mental health support following the pandemic with social isolation, trauma, bereavement and financial challenges all increasing the risk of poor mental health. 

“A significant number of Scots have said they’re not confident they’d receive quick access or the right support from their GP if needed, and they are right to be concerned given many services are already overwhelmed by demand.

“We can’t just treat our way out of the approaching crisis. 

“The time is now for a transformational approach to mental health in Scotland which is why we’re calling for urgent action to create a Wellbeing Society.

“Mental health problems can be prevented if all Scotland’s political parties and decision makers get behind the prevention agenda and tackle the root causes of poor mental health.  Addressing the cause rather than the symptoms of mental ill-health will reduce prevalence of mental distress, improve overall wellbeing, tackle stigma and save lives.”

The Foundation wants the next Scottish government to commit to publishing a Wellbeing Budget within two years – similar to the approach taken in New Zealand and which would include measures to tackle poverty and prevent a covid-19 induced unemployment crisis.

Mental health education should be embedded in Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, the charity states, and a mentoring programme should be introduced for all children at risk of poverty, exclusion or adversity based on a “one good adult” model.

The Foundation also calls for suicide prevention spending to be doubled with a national support service set up for families who have lost someone to suicide.

Read more: Plea over funding as CAMHS year long waits surge; New NHS board advised for forensic mental health; Mental health cash boost cannot be ‘one off’ 

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