The Scottish Conservatives have called for a £300million cash injection to tackle mental health issues.
Ruth Davidson, the Tory leader in Scotland, outlined her party’s plans for dealing with conditions such as depression and criticised SNP ministers for taking so long to produce their own strategy.
Her party’s proposals would see an extra £300m invested into mental health over five years, which is double the sum proposed by the Scottish Government.
It includes round-the-clock mental health support in every A&E department, £10m to re-shift focus from handing out anti-depressants to social prescribing and the appointment of mental health champions in businesses and schools.
Ms Davidson claimed there had been a “collective failing” by SNP health secretaries, which had left the treatment of mental health lagging behind that of physical issues.
She added: “For too long, there has been a failure to recognise mental health issues as being just as urgent and debilitating as physical injuries.
“As we stated in our manifesto in May, there needs to be a step change in the amount of support we currently offer to those suffering from mental ill health.”
She also attacked the government for stalling on the delivery of their own strategy.
Ms Davidson said: “We are still waiting for a mental health strategy and they have put it off again until next year.”
NHS Fife is one of seven health boards in Scotland which have missed a Government target to ensure young people are seen by mental health professionals within 18 weeks of being referred. Tayside has had historic issues with seeing young people within target time.
Ms Davidson argued that putting a mental health link worker in every doctor’s surgery would help cut those waiting times.
Mental health minister Maureen Watt said they would consider the Conservatives’ principles as part of its strategy to be published in 2017.
She added: “Mental health is an absolute priority for this government, as demonstrated by our additional £150million investment over five years in improving treatment and innovation.
“Mental health spending has increased substantially [under this Government] and has supported the increase in the mental health workforce to historically high levels.”
