Our Four Nations Lead Steve Mulligan says 拢4 million of new investment in psychological therapy services in Scotland will create opportunities for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Steve welcomed the new Scottish Government funding 鈥� which is on top of 拢5m allocated in May 鈥� that aims to reduce waiting times for adult psychological therapies.

The funding, which forms part of Scotland鈥檚 拢120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund, will allow health boards to recruit additional mental health professionals, including counsellors and psychotherapists.

It will also allow practitioners, where appropriate,聽to use digital services to reach people in more remote locations, or those not able to attend in person.

Opportunities

Steve Mulligan, our Four Nation Lead, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased to see this investment in adult psychological therapies in Scotland which will open up opportunities for counsellors and psychotherapists, and help to alleviate the growing demand on services that we鈥檝e seen over the course of the pandemic.

鈥�When we met the Mental Wellbeing Minister in August we emphasised the important role that counsellors and psychotherapists are playing in supporting the mental health of the nation and the need for increased investment in the counselling workforce to ensure more people can get the support they need, when they need it.

鈥淪o it鈥檚 great to see this additional investment to ensure that more people in Scotland have improved access to life-changing counselling and psychotherapy services.鈥�

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart, who announced the funding during a visit to meet psychological therapies staff in North Lanarkshire, said: 鈥淎cross Scotland, talented and dedicated staff trained in psychological therapies provide high-quality care and are helping more people than ever, despite the substantial increase in demand placed on the service by the pandemic.

Support

鈥淚 want to further support the service so we can increase the speed at which people receive their care.

鈥淟ong waits are unacceptable and we鈥檙e committed to meeting the standard that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e investing an additional 拢4 million in mental health professionals聽trained in applied psychological therapies who will be instrumental in reducing pressure on the system.鈥�