SAMH says We Won’t Wait in the face of a mental health crisis

4th October 2021

Today we have launched our new three-year strategy, We Won’t Wait, in response to a growing mental health crisis in Scotland. 

Even before the pandemic, the system of support was under strain. People are still being left behind by rejected referrals, indeterminate waiting times and inadequate support. So we are stepping up, so that SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) can reach everyone who needs us.

There is a lot planned over the next three years and we’ll be putting the voices and views of people who are affected by mental health problems at the heart of our approach.

SAMH will continue to challenge the Scottish Government to redevelop long term care and support services based on recovery, while also playing a key role across Scotland in preventing suicide.

If you ask for help once you should get it, fast. That’s why we’ll be launching a range of new psychological wellbeing support and building on our work supporting employers and employees to create mentally healthy workplaces.

Physical activity and sport can bring so much to our mental health and wellbeing, so over the coming years we’ll create new programmes to expand our work to reach even more people.

Children and young people will be a key focus for SAMH, as they need our support more than ever. Stigma and bullying have no place in our society, and SAMH is determined to play our part in stamping it out.

Billy Watson, Chief Executive at SAMH said,

“I’m proud that for almost a century, SAMH has been there for Scotland’s mental health. However, the last 18 months have possibly been the most challenging times we can remember. The next three years will be pivotal for Scotland’s mental health recovery, so we’ve designed our new strategy to be the most ambitious we have produced in a generation. We will work tirelessly so that everyone should be able to ask once and get help fast. In the face of a mental health emergency, We Won’t Wait.”

To find out more about our new 2021-24 strategy, visit samh.org.uk/WeWontWait