Mental Health

As an amendment to motion S4M-12492 in the name of Jim Hume (Mental Health), leave out from “notes the recent” to end and insert "further notes the progress made in improving access to child and adolescent mental health services, with a 57% increase in the number of children and young people starting treatment, but is concerned that the waiting times standards are still to be achieved consistently across Scotland; welcomes the reduction in stigma and the increase in young people who now feel more confident about seeking help for self-harm; commits to supporting further efforts to meet the targets for referral to child and adult mental health services and psychological therapies; believes that every suicide represents a tragedy; notes the 11 commitments in the Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013-16 to continue the downward trend, which has seen a 19% reduction in suicides in Scotland over 10 years; recognises that there must be, and that legislation already reflects, no distinction of importance between physical and mental health; expects the Scottish Government to ensure transparent reporting of progress in meeting the challenges of improving people’s mental health, including on the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2012-15, and expresses its support for Scotland's dedicated and committed NHS staff and those in the third sector working in this critical area.”