Understanding the importance of protecting your own mental
health could be key to reducing the number of people with mental
health problems.
Good mental health can bring a healthier lifestyle, better
physical health, better relationships with family and friends and
greater productivity in the workplace.
That's the message from Scotland's mental health improvement
plan, launched today by Public Health Minister Shona Robison.
Plans for mental health improvement include:
National marketing campaigns raising awareness of how adults and
young people can promote their own wellbeing, aided by self-help
resources and practical support
Awareness raising and help for older people to spot the early
signs of dementia and get earlier diagnosis
Training for health and social workers on how best to promote
mental wellbeing in children and young people
A focus on lifestyle approaches to help people achieve good
mental health - help to stop smoking, be more active and eat
healthier
Promotion of wellbeing in the workplace - focusing on the
prevention of common mental health problems, retaining people in
work when they experience mental health problems and helping those
out of work, due to mental illness, back into work
Research to build a clear picture of all the key factors that
lead to suicides and creation of a secure, confidential suicide
register for Scotland.
Improve knowledge and understanding of self-harm and guidance
for services to aid treatment and prevention.
Ms Robison visited the Thistle Foundation in Craigmillar,
Edinburgh today to see how local projects are providing facilities
like gym access and anxiety management courses to help people
protect their own wellbeing.
Ms Robison said:
"We want to create a more successful Scotland with a thriving
society that offers everyone the opportunity to reach their full
potential."
"Promoting good mental wellbeing, reducing the occurrence of
mental health problems and improving the quality of life of those
experiencing mental health problems is vital to doing just
that."
"Our immediate aim is to help everyone to understand how their
own and other's mental health can be improved and create a
step-change in how we, as a society, look after our mental
health."
For a copy of Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland please
visit www.scotland.gov.uk/publications