BPS responds to STV Scotland Tonight report into lack of funding and support for people with severe mental health challenges

Responding to the STV Scotland Tonight 28 January report that highlighted the challenges that people with serious mental health issues face, Dr Claire Stark, Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology Scotland, said:

"The BPS has highlighted the worrying lack of funding for mental health services to the Scottish Government, as people with severe and complex mental health issues are more likely to be impacted by poverty and restrictive practices. The programme highlighted that a significant number of people wait on average, an extra three months in hospital because of delayed discharges and a lack of timely and appropriate social care. This has a significant impact on people's recovery and on their families. 

"The demand for services, workforce shortages and stretched social care mean people are waiting unacceptably long times for treatment and community support. The current model is unsustainable, so we ask the Scottish Government to review the workforce provision within NHS adult mental health inpatient services and Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT).  While we broadly welcome the First Minister's plans to improve NHS services in Scotland, there has been a historic underinvestment in NHS inpatient mental health services and for psychology provision within them. With ever-increasing demand for services, we reiterate our calls for the Scottish Government to meet its own target to increase spending on mental health services to 10% of the total frontline NHS budget."