Latest news from Scotland and Wales

Mental Health Nursing,  Sep 2006  

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Around 125,000 young people in Scotland, roughly one in ten, have mental health problems, warns children's charity NCH.

Launching Factfile, its annual 'report card' on Scotland's children and young people, the charity says that while positive progress has been made, there is significant potential to do better.

As well as the high number of young people with mental health problems, the report also found that there are still 240,000 children living in poverty in Scotland, while school absenteeism and drug-induced violence among young people were on the rise.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Andrew Girvan, NCH Scotland's director of children's services, said: 'FactFile shows the gap that exists between young Scots from different backgrounds.

There is a Scotland of opportunity based on educational attainment that is providing a bright future for many of our young people. But there is also another Scotland, where social difficulties have created a poverty of opportunity that is robbing individuals and communities of any sense of optimism.

'Our report clearly shows that Scotland faces a formidable challenge in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable children in our society. However, we are encouraged by the commitment being shown by the Scottish Executive in driving forward improvements in services, which are having a positive impact. The role of Factfile is to focus attention on these issues.'

Meanwhile, in Wales, a new report by Age Concern and the Mental Health Foundation has been launched to highlight mental health and wellbeing in later life.

The report, UK Mental Health and Wellbeing in Later Life, was launched at the Welsh Assembly Office in Cardiff Bay by John Griffiths, the deputy minister for health and social services.

Mr Griffiths said: 'I welcome this report and its positive contribution to the debate on this important issue. Indeed, it is allied to the work we are taking forward with our Strategy for Older People in Wales.'

Director of Age Concern Cymru, Robert Taylor, added: This report provides a wake up call to all the organisations working for older people in Wales, and indeed to older people themselves.

'Many older people are suffering with mental health problems that are severe enough to affect their quality of life. It is frustrating and disturbing that so many of these problems are either avoidable or treatable.

'Eradicating pensioner poverty, removing age discrimination, helping older people take a greater role in society, and ensuring that older people are not lonely and isolated are just some of the actions that society in Wales can start to implement.

'The report makes some recommendations on the actions older people can take themselves to help maintain good mental health and we would urge older people to follow this advice as far as possible.' The action plan will:

* Map current policy and programme activity at a national level that contribute to mental health and makes the links between physical health and other factors known to have a significant impact such as poverty, quality of housing and social activities

* Propose further action to promote the mental health of older people in line with the Welsh Assembly Government's Healthy Ageing Action Plan

* Be used to influence local strategies to promote mental health

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