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Scottish Parliament Appeal to Children/YP Befriending Projects
16 December 2008
The Scottish Parliament has just set up a new inquiry into children/yp's mental health and where and how needs are/aren't being met. This is an exciting opportunity for befriending's role to feed into government-level policy. BNS encourages all projects to get in touch - see contact details below.
CHILDREN TARGETED WITH INQUIRY LAUNCH INTO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
An inquiry into child and adolescent mental health services has been launched today by the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee with a call for evidence.
After making a number of informal visits to child and adolescent mental health projects around Scotland earlier this year, where they spoke to service users, the committee has decided to focus its inquiry on the younger generation’s needs.
The committee is particularly interested in how children and adolescents at risk of developing mental health problems are identified by the medical and other professions. It is also keen to learn more about access to services and ongoing support for this group of children and any improvements that could be made in the transition from children’s mental health services to adult mental health services.
Committee Convener Christine Grahame MSP said: “Mental health services in Scotland are perceived by some as the ‘Cinderella service’ of the NHS. Having undertaken visits to services around Scotland, committee members are very much aware of the vulnerable nature of the young users of these services and of the importance of early identification, intervention and later, the successful transition to adult services.”
Background
Further information is available on the inquiry’s web page at www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/hs/inquiries/mentalhealthservices/index.htm
The contact for members of the media is:
Ann Donald: 0131 348 5605
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: ann.donald@scottish.parliament.uk
For specific Committee information contact:
Douglas Thornton: 0131 348 5247
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: Douglas.thornton@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact:
Telephone: 0131 348 5000 / 0800 092 7500 (Public Enquiries) / 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig) Textphone users can contact us on 0800 092 7100. We also welcome calls using the RNID Typetalk service. email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
You can now get in touch with the Parliament by text message. Our interactive service enables you to get the name of your MSP by sending your postcode, lets you ask questions about the Parliament and its work, and enables you to request a selection of free leaflets. The number to take advantage of is 07786 209888. Texts are charged at standard network rates. More details can be found on our Text Service page.
For more information on this article, contact Liz Watson on 0131 225 6156, or email admin@befriending.co.uk.
