mental health problems

Good practice guidance for working with children and families affected by substance misuse: getting our priorities right

Not all families affected by substance misuse will experience difficulties. However, parental substance misuse may have significant and damaging consequences for children. These children are entitled to help, support and protection, within their own families wherever possible. Sometimes they will need agencies to take prompt action to secure their safety. Parents too will need strong support to tackle and overcome their problems and promote their children’s full potential.

The same as you?: a review of services for people with learning disabilities

This review of services for people with learning disabilities began by looking at services, especially in social and healthcare, and their relationship with education, housing, employment and other areas. It also focused on people’s lifestyles and wider policies including social inclusion, equality and fairness, and the opportunity for people to improve themselves through continuous learning. The review also recommends that for all but a few people, health and social care should be provided in their own homes or in community settings alongside the rest of the population.

Review of evidence relating to volatile substance abuse in Scotland

In early 2006, the Scottish Executive Justice Department commissioned a review of the available evidence on volatile substance abuse (VSA) among young people in Scotland, particularly, in relation to the prevalence and nature of VSA, successful prevention of VSA and effective communication of VSA information and messages.

This report details the findings of that review and makes recommendations for the way in which the review of evidence can be used to take forward the volatile substance abuse agenda in Scotland.

Health in Scotland 2008: shedding light on hidden epidemics

Report from the Chief Medical Officer reviewing some of the data on the habits which studies are showing have a dramatic effect on risks of developing chronic ill health or premature death.

It also considers some of the mental health problems which may contribute to chronic stress in sufferers by lessening their ability to control and manage their lives. Such problems include ADHD in adults, post traumatic stress syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorders.

Young refugees : providing emotional support to young separated refugees in the UK

This guide offers advice on how to provide emotional support to young separated refugees and asylum-seeking young people in the UK (often described as unaccompanied children). These are children under 18 years of age who are outside their country of origin and separated from both parents or their legal/customary primary care giver. In this guide the term 'young separated refugee' is used to describe these children and young people.

Experiences of the early implementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 : a cohort study

Report of a study which aimed to evaluate the implementation of the MHCT Act through an in-depth exploration of the experiences and perceptions of service users, carers and different health and social care professionals and advocacy workers, and a consideration of stakeholders' views in light of those expressed before implementation of the Act.

No Boundaries : Tayside Domestic Abuse and Substance Misuse Project : Final Research Report

This report presents the results of a secondary analysis of data collected for the Tayside Domestic Abuse and Substance Misuse Project by a different research team. The secondary analysis was conducted by Dolev & Associates, with funding from the Scottish Government Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative. An attempt was made to identify depositional and organisational factors that shape the experiences of women who are affected by domestic abuse and their own substance misuse at each stage of their service use.

Well? What do you think? (2008): the fourth national Scottish survey of public attitudes to mental wellbeing and mental health problems

The overall aims of the research were to examine the views and experiences of a representative sample of the adult Scottish population (reflecting age, gender, income, location, race and ethnic diversity) in relation to a spectrum of mental health-related issues; and to compare findings with other relevant survey data.