MONDAY, 7 MARCH, 2022

Immediate release

Help shape community mental health and wellbeing services in Angus

People in Angus are being encouraged to give their views on the first draft of a new plan to improve mental health and wellbeing and substance use services.

Angus Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has identified a range of improvements within the draft Angus Living Life Well plan as part of its commitment to ensure everyone across the region benefits from safe, effective and high quality community mental health and wellbeing services. This also includes substance use services. The plan is aligned to the Tayside Mental Health and Learning Disability Strategy - Living Life Well: A lifelong approach to mental health in Tayside.

The Angus Living Life Well plan aims to:

• Help support people to manage their mental health and access the right help at the right time in their local community when needed

• Support individuals to increase their knowledge about medicines through close links with pharmacy and make informed decisions about their treatment

• Reduce stigma around mental health and encourage people to talk about it

• Improve the care and support provided to people with dementia and their carers

Jillian Galloway, Head of Health and Community Care Services with responsibility for Mental Health Services, said, “Mental health affects us all and we want people in Angus to help shape our services. We would like to hear from as many people as possible, especially those with lived experience, families, carers and people who deliver services. We are very grateful to those who have already taken the time to give their feedback and would encourage others to take up the opportunity to share their views.”

The Angus Mental Health and Wellbeing Network (AMHAWN), made up of people with lived experience of mental health issues, Angus HSCP staff and third sector organisations, has been involved in co-producing the plan. AMHAWN members are encouraging people to provide feedback on the proposed improvements.

Colin McMillan is Chair of Angus Voice, an organisation which represents the views and experiences of people in Angus who have mental health conditions. Colin said, “As a user of mental health services in Angus, I think that there is definitely a lot of good work taking place to support people living with mental health conditions. There is always room for improvement and this is what the Angus Living Life Well plan will address.

“It is important that people understand that there is a lot that they can do for themselves to help their mental health and wellbeing, it’s not all about medication. The peer support that is available within every GP practice is terrific and exercise is really important too.”

Details of the proposed improvements are available to view on the Angus HSCP website at www.angushscp.scot. Members of the public are invited to give their feedback by completing a short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/STSLJD2. Paper copies are also available by calling 01307 498560, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The survey will close on Friday, 25 March 2022.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications, on behalf of Angus Health and Social Care Partnership

(01382) 740416

tay.communications@nhs.scot