Lockdown delays Fife's mental health strategy until 2021

Plans for a mental health strategy for Fife have been outlined - but lockdown has meant it won’t be implemented until next year.

The four-year plan was given the green light at today's meeting of Fife Health and Social Care's Integrated Joint Board.

It aims to improve mental health care in the region, and was formally approved by the board in February.

Its key commitments were outlined today.

These include prevention and early intervention care, the guarantee of workforce recruitment and retention in the scheme, making care accessible for all and technology enabled care.

A mental health focus group has also been established to increase participation and engagement.

Others include a suicide prevention group and a rebalancing care group to provide alternate care dependent on the individual.

Patient, carer and third sector representation will be included in the working groups to ensure a wide range of factors are considered in the strategy.

Nicky Connor, director of the partnership said: "There is significant activity underway, but further work is needed.

£500,000 lifeline funding for Fife's big theatres

"This mental health strategy is not just about the services we deliver, it's about supporting mental health and well-being within our population."

Cllr Tim Brett gave the report his support.

He said: "I very much welcome this strategy and I hope that we can get real impetus behind it because it is vital that we do that."

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, implementation will be delayed by a year.

Approval will be sought in early 2021 after consultation scheduled for December.

> Hannah Brown is the Local Democracy Reporter for Fife & Angus

Thank you for reading this story on our website. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers - the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen and East Fife Mail.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper. Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press