The Programme for Government was announced in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 May.
While there was a nod to mental health in the statement - there was no mentions of psychiatry or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Responding to the statement, Dr Jane Morris, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said: “Yet again, we’re disappointed to see that mental health has not been prioritised in the current programme for government.
“We needed bold and decisive actions - which are proportionate to the scale of the mental health emergency we’re facing.
“Appropriate resourcing including a sustainable workforce must be prioritised, as well as addressing the unprecedented rise in need for support for neurodevelopmental conditions – for which there is currently no national approach.
“It’s only fair that everyone in Scotland should have a mental health system which can provide high quality care and treatment for people when they really need it.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: laura.varney@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Contact Name: Laura Varney, Senior Media Officer (Devolved Nations)