SCOTLAND’S emergency services have been recognised for their efforts to tackle and enhance mental health support for those in need.
NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Services (SAS) teamed up to form the “Mental Health Pathway”, a collaboration that means that people phoning 999 with non-emergency mental health concerns will be referred to NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub.
Staffed by psychological wellbeing practitioners and trained mental health nurses, the service is aimed to support those who require urgent mental health support – in cases where emergency intervention is not required – and can also be accessed by phoning 111.
The move came as a response to actions from the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy for 2017-2027, which is aimed at improving mental health services and outcomes for people in Scotland.
Now, the services have been recognised for their “fresh and colaborative approach” as winners of the “Care for Mental Health Award” at the Scottish Health Awards 2024.
The partnership went live operationally in 2020, and since then, the project has undergone various evaluation phases and gradual roll-out.
Over 91% of Police Scotland staff are now trained in the transfer process for those calling with mental health concerns, with work reportedly ongoing to hit 100% of applicable staff.
The training aims to secure the pathway as “business as usual” and ensure that all Police Scotland and SAS staff have awareness of, and confidence in, transferring mental health callers appropriately.
NHS 24 reports that the Mental Health Pathway has also meant that police and ambulance staff are no longer deployed unnecessarily to calls regarding mental health unless there is an immediate threat to life.
This change has relieved pressure on staff, with Police Scotland data notably recording that 17,413 officer hours were saved over a ten-month period.
Dr Ron Cook, NHS 24’s medical director, previously described the need for the Mental Health Pathway.
He said: “It is imperative that anyone in mental health crisis or distress can quickly and easily connect with professionals who are experts in that field.
“Within office hours, patients seeking help with their mental health should contact their own GP.
“However, during the out of hours period, such as evenings and weekends, it is common for patients to be unsure of where to access mental health support. Many will often reach out for help by dialling 999, which may not be the most appropriate care route for them.
“The Mental Health Pathway was set up to streamline the process for anyone needing urgent assistance with their mental health, and aims to make all callers feel supported, understood, and cared for.
“This project has led to a better experience for individuals experiencing mental illness or distres, but also has the added impact of reducing the deployment of frontline services in non-emergencies and easing the demand on emergency services.”
Mental wellbeing minister Maree Todd said: “The Scottish Government is delighted that NHS 24, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service were recognised for their collaborative approach.
“I am thrilled to congratulate the ‘Care for Mental Health Award’ winners on this award.
“The Scottish Government has provided almost £15m to support the development of an Enhanced Mental Health Pathway.
“This pathway has led to improved accessibility of mental health support, ensuring that people in distress receive timely and effective support.”
