Policy watch
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301111186787 |
| Pages | 156-159 |
| Published date | 17 November 2011 |
| Date | 17 November 2011 |
| Author | Simon Lawton‐Smith |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Policy watch
Simon Lawton-Smith
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to review recent and forthcoming developments in mental health policy
across the UK.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper summarises and comments on recent policy documents
and initiatives.
Findings – The paper suggests how changes to policy might impact on mental health services.
Originality/value – The paper updates knowledge of recent and forthcoming mental health policy.
Keywords Mental health policy, Mental health strategy, Mental health services, Social welfare policy
Paper type Conceptual paper
Question: what’s the connection between a bus and a UK mental health strategy?
Answer: you wait for ages and then two come along at the same time.
You could probably stretch the analogy further by joking about how the wheels can
potentially come off both; or how the drivers do not always give the impression that they
actually want to let ordinary members of the public on board; or that passengers do not
always like the route they take and that they can stop short of where people really want them
to go; or they are both expensive vehicles to run, but worth it for the social benefits they
bring.
Setting this whimsy aside, the fact is that following the publication of a new mental health
strategy for England earlier this year, which I wrote about in the last issue, we now have a
consultation on a new mental health strategy for Scotland (Scottish Government, 2011),
published in September and aiming to establish a strategy for 2011-2015.
There have been many good things said about the policies and plans that it will build on,
Delivering for Mental Health of 2006, and Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: Policy
and Action Plan 2009-2011. The consultation document lists a wide range of activity and
achievements made over the past three years. It also in effect fully integrates for the first time
policies aimed at improving population mental health alongside policies aimed at improving
mental health services for people who become unwell.
There appear to be no radical shifts of thinking or emphasis in the new document. Much of
the language between it and the earlier documents is virtually identical. But this is not a
criticism. Scotland has for some time been seen as one of the most innovative countries
in Europe in terms of developing mental health policy even if, sadly, the prevalence
and incidence of mental disorder remain relatively high (in passing, Spaniards seem to be
the happiest of Europeans, though this may have changed recently given their current
economic crisis).
PAGE 156
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 15 NO. 4 2011, pp. 156-159, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/20428301111186787
Simon Lawton-Smith is a
Head of Policy at The Mental
Health Foundation,
London, UK.
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