Humza Yousaf, a government official, has announced an extra $30 million to assist Scots in improving their mental health. The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults and the Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports received $15 million for 2024-25.
The First Minister, who has shared his struggles with mental health in the past, praised the funding during a visit to the Edinburgh Community Performing Arts re-connect project. This project aids individuals aged 65 and older dealing with conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s.
He stated, “When I became First Minister, I emphasized my commitment to supporting those facing mental health challenges.” “We understand how crucial it is for our society to access mental health and wellbeing assistance.
Sir Humza Yousaf (Credits: The Times)
My government is dedicated to funding essential services in our healthcare system and community settings. We aim to establish a national community support network for adults, children, and young people.”
“This additional $30 million will finance community-based prevention and early intervention initiatives. It’s a significant step in supporting people’s mental health by ensuring they can easily access help when and where they need it.” He noted that this latest funding brings the total investment in community-based mental health to over $130 million since 2020.
This funding is part of the 2024-25 budget allocation for mental health, with over $1.3 billion dedicated to mental health services. The adult fund was introduced in 2021 to aid community groups in supporting adults dealing with social isolation, loneliness, and mental health disparities.
Yousaf (Credits: The National)
The Scottish Government reported that, within the first two years of the scheme, approximately 3,300 grants have been provided to community organizations that deliver mental health support.
The children’s support fund began in 2020 to address the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. However, it now assists individuals aged 5 to 24 by providing mentoring, arts-based therapies, whole-family support, and counseling. It is estimated that over 58,000 children, young people, and their families have accessed the services offered through this fund.
