Scotland’s New Mental Health Strategy
August 18, 2012
The Scottish government has released its new mental health strategy, which includes the note that “crisis houses offer intensive short-term support to help resolve a crisis in a residential rather than hospital setting. There is no single model for a crisis house, but they are often run by third sector organisations and can provide a key location for undertaking peer to peer support … The themes above and commitments set out throughout this Strategy promise a system where therapies are more readily available, but also where there is a wider range of responses, including social prescribing, self help and peer to peer work … This marks a move away from the model where, uniformly, the doctor diagnoses and treats illness, to a wider range of responses ….”
Related Items:
New mental health strategy (Article on Scottish government website)
Strategy on government website
Note from Kermit Cole, “In the News” editor:
Thanks to Chrys Muirhead for alerting us to this (and providing the excerpts above).
Good for Scotland to take a serious look at changing strategies!
Duane
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And thank you Chrys for all you did in Scotland to create an awareness… for your part in helping change the system in your country!
Duane
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Thanks for your good wishes Duane but I can’t take the credit.
There were many people involved in the mental health strategy consultation which went on for months. We got an opportunity to give an individual response, to go to events with others to discuss the possibilities. The Scottish Government engaged with a wide range of ‘customers’. Many mental health organisations made a response after consulting their membership. So it was a combined effort.
Regards, Chrys
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Chrys,
I’m sure you played a role.
Thank you for the reminders (in your writing) of the importance of kindness and humility.
My best,
Duane
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Oh, and my grandad was from Scotland – Angus Henderson, from Skye.
Duane
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Great to hear about your Scottish roots Duane!
That explains your couthy (warm and friendly) sayings. Angus Henderson, a real Scots name, from the isle of Skye. What could be better. My middle son is named Angus, interestingly he now lives not far from you, in Louisiana.
For sure we all live in a global village.
All the best, Chrys
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A tiny, tiny start. However, watch how fast anyone who works at this government funded crisis house gets fired if they dare tell the people on community commitment that they don’t have a brain disease and their human rights are being violated.
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Let’s agree to differ Anonymous.
The crisis houses are not likely to be all government funded and even if so does not mean a negative outcome. We have one already, the Edinburgh Crisis Centre in the capital:
http://www.edinburghcrisiscentre.org.uk/wordpress/index.php/services/
People self refer, it’s for carers also and isn’t a ‘clinical’ service. Service users, carers and family members campaigned for this service/project and influence the running of it.
There is room in Scotland for people like me to have alternative views of mental distress and treatment/support. It’s not easy but hey that’s what makes life interesting. Being optimistic with a streak of realism and opportunism.
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