South Scotland MSP Emma Harper, Co-Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Mental Health Cross Party Group, has welcomed £5 million of Scottish Government funding over five years for See Me, a national programme which aims to eliminate mental health stigma and discrimination.
The continuing investment in See Me has been announced alongside the launch of a new government strategy, With Fairness in Mind, which will allow See Me to carry on with important work as part of the wider national response to the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South Scotland MSP has also highlighted the importance of mental health and has added her support to third sector positive health and wellbeing promotions such as Are Ewe Okay? from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers, Winter Ready from Support in Mind Scotland and the SAMH Wellness Hub.
Ms Harper, also a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said;
“Positive mental health means positive health and wellbeing. Particularly as we are now entering the winter months with darker nights and the stresses the festive season can bring and the pressures which are already existing due to the pandemic. Now is such an important time for investment in mental health services, for tackling mental health stigma and for people to look after their mental health.
“I welcome the Scottish Government’s investment of £5 million of funding to continue See Me which supports so many people who have experienced, and continue to experience, mental health challenges as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. Mental health and positive wellbeing is so important and I support all actions to ensure that people are able to easily access whichever support they require to ensure positive wellbeing.
“Last week at Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, the Mental Health Minister showed a commitment to tackling mental health stigma and support for those experiencing mental health challenges, particularly for health and social care staff – a measure I lobbied for at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. He also encouraged people to access the National Wellbeing Hub which offers a range of online resources to help people with both home and work life and a variety of self-help ideas and references.
“Are Ewe Okay? is also another really great initiative by the Scottish Association for Young Farmers. Its aim is to provide support for those who work in agriculture which, by the very nature of the job, can be isolating. Additionally, Support in Mind Scotland and SAMH have fantastic support resources to promote positive health and wellbeing which I encourage all to access.”
