THURSDAY, 25 FEBRUARY, 2021

Immediate release: Link to Living Life Well video: https://youtu.be/hEUQfyHjUX0

‘Living Life Well’ - Tayside Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy launched

‘Living Life Well’, the new Tayside-wide strategy to improve mental health and learning disability services is launched today (Thursday, 25 February).

The strategy, which has been welcomed by Scottish Government Mental Health Minister Claire Haughey, has been developed following a programme of work with more than 600 local stakeholders, including people with lived experience, their families and carers along with voluntary and third sector organisations, NHS Tayside staff, local authorities and Police Scotland.

It is one of the key actions from Tayside’s Listen Learn Change action plan which was developed in response to the Independent Inquiry into mental health services in Tayside which was published in February 2020.

Stakeholders have been pivotal in the development and delivery of the strategy from the early idea stage where those with an interest in mental health and learning disability services initially came together to share what they wanted services to look like in the future.

The strategy’s title ‘Living Life Well – A Lifelong Approach to Mental Health in Tayside’ was chosen by stakeholders who are members of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Communications and Engagement group. The full strategy and a summary document are available to view on the Living Life Well website at www.livinglifewelltayside.scot.nhs.uk.

‘Living Life Well’ has been welcomed by the Tayside Executive Partners who are the Chief Executives of NHS Tayside and Angus, Dundee City and Perth & Kinross Councils and the Tayside Divisional Commander Police Scotland. These public leaders in Tayside made a commitment to the people of Tayside at the publication of Dr Strang’s Independent Inquiry to work together to improve mental health services for those who need them and those who deliver them.

Mental Health Minister Claire Haughey said, “I welcome the publication of the Tayside Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Living Life Well, and I am pleased to see it has been endorsed by those with lived experience, service managers and others in the community.

“The implementation of the strategy is an important step in Tayside’s improvement journey for mental health supports and services. The next significant step will be the outcome of Dr David Strang's review of Tayside’s progress, expected to begin in April this year.”

Launching the strategy on behalf of the Tayside Executive Partners, Chief Executive Grant Archibald said, “I am so pleased to launch ‘Living Life Well’. The co-creation of this strategy alongside people with lived and professional experience is a significant step forward in delivering change and improvements for those who use and work in Mental Health and Learning Disability Services in Tayside.

“Partnership working is the cornerstone of the new approach in Tayside and this has been key to the development of the strategy.

“It’s so important that, as we move forward and work together to actually make this document a reality and with even more of a focus on mental health services due to the lasting impact of the pandemic on our communities, we continue to work alongside all stakeholders and ensure that the voices of people with lived and professional experience continue to feature strongly – and influence – our direction of travel.”

NHS Tayside Chair Lorna Birse-Stewart said, “The launch of the Living Life Well strategy is a very positive step in NHS Tayside’s plans to improve mental health and learning disability services, which are a key priority for NHS Tayside. This co-created strategy emphasises how important it is to engage with communities, with our staff and with people with lived experience.

“The Board remains committed to developing and designing services with the expertise of all our stakeholders to ensure we always put patients and their families at the centre of all that we do.”

Angus Council Chief Executive Margo Williamson said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the awareness and importance of supporting our mental health and wellbeing as much as our physical health. We are committed to this strategy across Angus and it will form an important part of our recovery plans.”

Dundee City Council Chief Executive Greg Colgan said, “It is vital for people in Dundee and the wider Tayside area that the partners continue to work together to improve mental health and wellbeing services. This approach will help us to meet the significant additional challenges that have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Perth & Kinross Council Interim Chief Executive Barbara Renton said, “Approximately one in four people will suffer from a mental health problem at some point in their lives and we are committed to supporting the Living Life Well strategy in Perth and Kinross.

“Mental health and wellbeing services are a critical part of healthcare and will be more important than ever as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Police Scotland Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Andrew Todd said, “On behalf of Tayside Division, I welcome the progress that has been made to strengthen mental health and learning disability services in the region, and am pleased to support the launch of this important strategy.

“Police Scotland will continue to work alongside other key partners to support the delivery, and we remain committed to playing our part in supporting the needs of the people we serve in our communities.”

Interim Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Kate Bell said, “We are very grateful to all those people across Tayside who have worked with us to co-create and co-produce this strategy. Their involvement has been invaluable and has allowed us to ensure the strategy reflects the needs of all and, in particular, the voices of people living with mental health conditions, their carers and families.”

Alan Cotter, a member of the Stakeholder Participation Group which was set up as part of the Independent Inquiry, and now part of the Communications and Engagement group, added, “There has been a marked improvement in the collaborative approach adopted by NHS Tayside alongside key stakeholders.

“This strategy document is a key milestone in addressing the recommendations of the Trust and Respect report.”

Brook Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of Feeling Strong, Dundee’s youth mental health charity and co-chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Communications and Engagement group, said, “This strategy has been the result of sustained and meaningful engagement with our communities here in Tayside. It's more than just a document, it shows a commitment to new ways of working and keeping the community at the heart of the services that exist to support them.”

If you want to find out more about the work underway please visit www.livinglifewelltayside.scot.nhs.uk or email tay.mhwteam@nhs.scot

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718