Improving the Lives of Scotland's Gypsy/ Travellers 2: action plan 2024-2026 - easy read

3. Health

What communities told us:

• have training for health services to support them to understand the culture of Gypsy/Traveller communities
• have better access to mental health services

Gypsy/Traveller communities are at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems, which for some people can lead to self-harm and suicide.

Self-harm means someone hurts themselves because it makes them feel better when they are very upset or worried.

Suicide means taking your own life.

Gypsy/Traveller communities can also find it harder to get support and services.

• have more MECOPP Community Health Workers in all parts of Scotland

MECOPP is an organisation that supports Black and Minority Ethnic carers to get health, social work and other social care services.

• have more information and support to get health services

Things that make it difficult to register for a GP and to get health services include:

• dealing with forms and complicated ways of working
• not being able to read or write well
• having no fixed address
• discrimination

We need to let more people know about the services that are already there like the blue card.

If Gypsy/Travellers show the blue card they can be treated by a GP if needed.

Objective 13

Make sure what we have learned from the MECOPP Community Health Worker service is included in all health services and helps us to plan future services.

Objective 14

Have more knowledge and understanding about the health and social care needs and inequalities experienced by Gypsy/Traveller communities.

Objective 15

Make sure we listen to what Gypsy/Traveller communities think when we work to make access to mental health supports and services better.

Objective 16

Build understanding of Gypsy/Traveller culture in mental health community supports and in mental health services.

Objective 17

Make it easier for staff working with Gypsy/Traveller communities to get training about suicide prevention and self-harm.

Objective 18

Have a better understanding of the risk of suicide in Gypsy/Traveller communities.