Cole-Hamilton sets out plan to cut waiting times on World Mental Health Day

10 Oct 2023
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP

Speaking on World Mental Health Day, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has put forward his party’s blueprint to cut waiting times and expand services in a bid to ‘deliver the world-beating mental health system Scotland deserves’.  

At the end of September, research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found that more than half of Scots are “not confident” that they would be able to access mental health support if they need it. Only 11% were optimistic that mental health services would improve.    

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“Many Scots are struggling with their mental health, compounded by the shadow of lockdown and the soaring cost of living.

“The SNP/ Green government added to those challenges with a reckless £50m cut to the mental health budget despite thousands of children and adults waiting more than a year for the treatment they desperately need. Humza Yousaf’s personal promise to clear waiting lists by last March wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.

“Scotland deserves a world-beating system that will tackle the mental health emergency and help people get on in life.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out ambitious plans to cut waiting times, train more staff and boost the number of mental health professionals working alongside schools, GPs, the police and A&E departments. It would mean new hope for mental health.”

This website uses cookies

Like most websites, this site uses cookies. Some are required to make it work, while others are used for statistical or marketing purposes. If you choose not to allow cookies some features may not be available, such as content from other websites. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information.

Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the website to function properly.
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website.
Marketing cookies are used by third parties or publishers to display personalized advertisements. They do this by tracking visitors across websites.
Administrator preview
Live version at www.scotlibdems.org.uk