Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan 2026
The Scottish Government & COSLA have this week published a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan setting out their priorities over the next three years.
The plan follows on from, and supports, the priorities and outcomes outlined in the 2023 Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The plan focuses on prevention and making mental health support more accessible through joined-up local services.
Commitments in the plan include:
- Expanding community-based mental health support including the development of walk-in mental health hubs such as SAMH’s ‘The Nook’, giving people access to local support without a referral.
- Increasing the 24/7 mental health support provided by the Mental Health Triage Cars, specialist emergency response vehicles.
- Growing Scotland’s NHS 24 Mental Health Hub to include Psychological Therapies.
- Developing a new approach to support adults with neurodevelopmental needs.
Colleges and universities have been identified as key access points for people looking for support. As the plan proposes expanding walk-in mental health support and more accessible local services, it could provide opportunities to consider how these services might complement existing support available to students, or be linked to work within Student Mental Health Agreements.
