Welcome to the web site of the National Programme. To learn more about the Programme's Strategy and Action Plan for 2003-06, please click here.
The National Programme to Improve the Mental Health and Well Being of the Scottish Population flows from the Executive's commitments to social justice and health improvement and builds on initiatives set out in "Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change" and the Social Justice Strategy. The programme is a major part of the Executive's overall policy commitment to mental health and health improvement. To assist this process and bring coherence and impetus to work in this area, Mr Chisholm announced in Autumn 2001 that he was setting up a National Advisory Group (NAG), bringing together key interests from a wide range of organisations with a part to play in mental health improvement.
The group had its fifth meeting on 14th February 2003 and is to contribute to, and oversee development of, policy on improving public mental well being. Its work is supported by a National Programme Manager, Gregor Henderson, (gregor.henderson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or 0131 244 0109) who is charged with helping to turn policy into real positive action. Some of the first tasks will be the development of a campaign to address the stigma which can attach to poor mental health and to progress the development of the National Framework for the Prevention of Suicide. Papers relating to this Programme, its Projects and the NAG meetings will be made available on this site.