Scotland Is The Place For Leadership In Mental Health

International mental health practitioners and leaders met in Edinburgh recently to discuss how to improve mental health services across the globe. It was the first time that the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) had been hosted in Scotland and was the largest gathering in its history.

Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
“Over 300 international mental health practitioners and leaders will use the week’s conference to exchange knowledge on mental health issues including social inclusion, ending stigma and delivering better services.

“Mental health is an important global issue. This event will enhance leadership in mental health practice to deliver better prevention, care and supported recovery for people who have mental health problems.

“Improving mental health services in Scotland remains a top priority for the Executive. Scotland has made significant progress in linking different mental health services and agencies together but we are always keen to learn from other nations to improve our services further.

“Our new mental health legislation is recognised internationally from the way it promotes rights and engages patients and carers in decisions about their treatment to aid recovery.

“The Act also places a duty on councils to support access to the arts, culture and recreational activities in their area for people with mental ill-health to increase social inclusion.

“We have a growing reputation for innovation in promoting positive mental health and well-being and tackling mental health issues. Our ‘see me’ anti-stigma TV advertising campaign aims to change public attitudes towards people with mental illness and is beginning to show positive results.

“Our national strategy ‘Choose Life’ has developed local and national action which has resulted in 4000 people now trained in suicide prevention. Progress is being made as suicide rates in 2004 were 10 per cent lower than when we launched Choose Life in 2002.

“Given that around a quarter of the population will experience mild to moderate mental ill-health in their lifetime, it is vital that services are sensitive to people’s needs and focus on social inclusion.

“Later this year we will publish a National Mental Health Delivery Plan that will set out a timetable for change to further improve Scotland’s mental health services.”

The IIMHL was launched in 2003 and was set up by England, New Zealand and America. It now has membership from seven countries: Scotland, England, Australia, New Zealand, America, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Membership negotiations are currently underway with Canada and Wales. Scotland joined the IIMHL in 2004.

Previous annual IIMHL exchanges have taken place in England (2003), America (2004) and New Zealand (2005).