The Scottish parliament’s Public Audit Committee has today launched an investigation into Scotland’s ‘under-pressure’ adult mental health services.

MSPs will hear directly from charities, mental health organisations and the public sector on the current delivery of services in a series of roundtable evidence sessions which began this morning.

The committee will explore the gaps between spending and outcomes, following Audit Scotland’s report finding that the Scottish government is ‘not on track’ for mental health, laying bare difficulties for adults trying to access mental health services.

The report found that accessing mental health services ‘remains slow and complicated for many people’, particularly for those in rural communities, living in poverty, and ethnic minorities.

The Scottish parliament’s Public Audit Committee has today heard from mental health organisations and charities which work with people experiencing or at risk of poor mental health.

Public Audit Committee Convener Richard Leonard MSP said:

“The committee was very concerned by the evidence it heard in September. That’s why the committee has decided to focus on Scotland’s vital mental health services over the next three weeks.

“We will be hearing directly from those working on the front lines of mental health to better understand the challenges they face.

“The Scottish government spent around £1.4bn on adult mental health services in 2021/22. However, a lack of data makes it hard to measure the impact and outcomes of this significant public expenditure.”

Mr Leonard explained that it is the role of the committee to ensure public money is being spent efficiently and effectively to deliver vital public services including mental health support.

Two more evidence are scheduled for November to hear from professionals supporting people with their mental health, Police Scotland, and Scotland’s health and social care public bodies.

It comes just as Scotland’s Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing launched new action plans to deliver on the government’s ambitions for mental health and wellbeing.

While the recent Audit Scotland report highlighted a lack of joined-up working between mental health, housing, welfare and employability services, Maree Todd said the new plans will centre cross-portfolio working and supporting the workforce.

A spokesperson for the Public Audit Committee said:

“These roundtable evidence sessions are an opportunity for the committee to hear in-depth evidence from a wide range of witnesses on adult mental health services.

“The scope of the evidence sessions is wide ranging, and we therefore expect that the Scottish government's latest announcements and their impact will be raised during scrutiny.”

Today’s first session heard from stakeholders that face-to-face appointment are vital to supporting people across Scotland with mental health, and transport support is essential to making this possible.

Meanwhile, addressing stigma and waiting times to access services was also highlighted, with rising demand reported by charities as well as NHS 24.

Jo Anderson, Director of Influence and Change, Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), told the committee that Scotland’s NHS can expect to need two to three times its pre-pandemic capacity to address the mental health problems resulting from the pandemic.

She explained that accessing services is currently very challenging and distressing for individuals, with “confusing pathways” and people often having to repeat their mental health struggles when seeking support.

Ms Anderson said: “Quite frankly, people should be able to just ask once and get help fast – it’s as simple as that.”

The committee will put what they have heard to the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General Health and Social Care Caroline Lamb at its meeting on 14 December.

Read more: New action plans signal mental health ‘reset'; Role of Mental Health Officers ‘critical’; Cut to Glasgow link worker service; Holyrood committee fails to back Transitions Bill; Staff shortage concerns in MWC reviews; Transatlantic mental health partnership strengthened

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