BPS calls for Scottish government to fulfil its mental health funding pledge ahead of budget settlement

The call by Scotland's Mental Health Partnership, of which the society is a member, comes as parliamentary consideration of Scotland's budget for 2024/25 begins, ahead of an announcement of the budget next week.

The partnership said the nation's mental health and wellbeing must be prioritised in financial planning.

In its 2021 election manifesto, the SNP pledged to increase spending on mental health services to 10 per cent of the total frontline NHS budget and to commit 25 per cent more resources to mental health during the lifetime of this parliament.

However, recent Public Health Scotland data suggests that the current figure is only 8.8 per cent - which amounts to a shortfall of £180 million each year.

Fiona Mackay, chair of the BPS Scottish Branch, said:

"Earlier this year, we were pleased to welcome publication of the Scottish government's ambitious mental health strategy, which focuses on promotion of positive mental health, early intervention and prevention, as well as the critical role of the mental health and wellbeing workforce in delivering it.

"However, we have been concerned about lack of detail about budgets, and how the workforce and delivery plans underpinning the strategy will be funded.

"If the strategy's vision of a Scotland, 'free from stigma and inequality, where everyone fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible' is to become a reality, then it's essential that the government fulfils its commitment to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total NHS spend, and to ensure sufficient funds are available to implement the strategy.