Cash boost for Scotland's mental health services

The Scottish Government is to boost mental health services with £500,000 of extra funding.

The cash is in addition to the existing £1,125,000 allocated to NHS24 for mental health.

The service will use the money to improve the services it offers to people experiencing low mood, depression and anxiety, as well as supporting those who need unscheduled care but do not need the emergency services.

The number of people contacting NHS24's mental health line has more than doubled over the past decade.

It's risen from 38,000 in 2006 to 87,000 in 2016.

Speaking during a visit to one of the service's call centres in Clydebank, Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt said: "Building on the plans laid out in our Mental Health Strategy, this £500,000 funding package will help NHS24 to improve their mental health services, whether online or via telephone.

"This is a key part of our work to intervene early, which we know can help prevent problems from worsening.

"On World Mental Health Day, it has been good to meet some of the NHS24 staff who deliver this care on a daily basis - and learn, first-hand, how effective these early interventions can be in supporting people to deal with a wide range of mental health conditions.''