Highland and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is delighted to acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Week as one of her first acts in the new term of the Scottish Parliament by lodging a motion marking the week.
Yesterday (13th May) on the same day Mrs Grant took the Oath in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament, she lodged a motion which highlights the campaigns that Mental Health UK and Mind are undertaking this year to mark the week. The motion also notes that the coronavirus pandemic has put pressure on NHS services and charitable services.
Mrs Grant has been campaigning for better adult and child mental health services across the Highlands and after she received appeals from local people last year who were worried about the number of suicides in Caithness.
Rhoda Grant MSP said: “Although a small general gesture, I want to signify how important this issue is to me and how it will be a priority of mine in this new Parliamentary term.
“There is to be an injection of funding for children and young people’s services through Highland Council, but we have a long way to go to fill the gaps that exist, especially for adult mental health services.”
Mrs Grant continued: “I’m currently trying to arrange a meeting with NHS Highland on adult services with community representatives in Caithness and I hope that, moving forward, better services will come to the region as a whole.”
Mental Health UK are is asking the public to immerse themselves in the “5 Ways to Wellbeing” while also reconnecting with nature. This includes connect, take notice, give, be active and keep learning. The UK wide charity Mind are asking people to take to social media and describe why they are fighting for mental health, to help create a movement for change.
Motion Number: S6M-00009
Lodged By: Rhoda Grant
Date Lodged: 13/05/2021
Title: Mental Health Awareness Week
Motion Text:
That the Parliament acknowledges Mental Health Awareness Week which runs from Monday 10 May to Sunday 16 May 2021; believes that Mental Health UK is asking the public to immerse themselves in the “5 Ways to Wellbeing” while also reconnecting with nature; understands that the “5 Ways to Wellbeing” include connect, take notice, give, be active and keep learning; notes that Mind is also asking individuals to share on social media why they are fighting for mental health, to help create a movement for change and, in addition, is asking people to donate to their cause; further notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on NHS services and charitable services such as Mental Health UK and Mind, and wishes everyone who takes part in this endeavour all the best.
