Mental Health in Scotland: Closing the Gaps - Making a Difference: Commitment 13

Trauma and Abuse Survivors

Agencies which work regularly with people with co-existing mental health and substance misuse problems should also seek sensitive ways to include a childhood trauma history in their assessments, so that they can identify specific needs arising from these experiences. Services need to consider which forms of support they can provide, and which will require referral links to specialist agencies, which may be required for some clients. There will be added considerations here (as for other aspects) to reflect the remote and rural dimensions. The solutions and steps taken in and for other areas of care will inform practice. There will also be particular considerations to apply for offenders who are highly represented within the known condition groups but their needs may be under-recognised in the prison system. All service commissioners should work with the prison and community justice services on integrated care pathways out of offending and offender programmes.