Mental Health Education

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 29 September 2016.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Liam McArthur Liam McArthur Liberal Democrat

I join others in c ongratulating Jenny Gilruth, not just on securing the debate but on setting the scene very well. I also thank the Scottish Youth Parliament for its work in the area. “Our generation’s epidemic: Young people’s awareness and experience of mental health information, support, and services” is a thorough report that articulates very well the nature of the problems that are faced and what gives rise to them. Just as important, it goes on to set out a number of recommendations, all of which are practical and deliverable, on information, support and services.

I pay particular tribute to Orkney’s two members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Jack Norquoy and Thorfinn Moffat, for their actions in promoting the report locally in Orkney, and for effectively articulating the specific islands dimension to the issue. Young people who live in an island setting face specific challenges—for example, the availability of services or the risk of isolation—that, perhaps, others do not have to face.

Before I address the specifics of the report and focus on the motion, I will make a couple of general observations on mental health. I still feel that it is not being taken seriously enough, which shames us all. Mental ill health will affect about one person in three in this country during their life, but we are still not open or honest enough about it. The impacts can be shattering for individuals and their family, friends and wider communities. Ultimately, there can be no good health without good mental health. That is why I believe that mental health needs to have parity in law with the treatment of physical health. If nothing else, that will help to drive budgetary decisions.

The on-going lack of a mental health strategy is more than regrettable.