Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health - transition and recovery plan - summary

Building on Our Covid-19 Response

Covid-19 has created many challenges. But we can also recognise, and build on, the innovations and new service designs that have emerged in response to the pandemic.

Some of the key achievements during the pandemic, and which we want to build on through the actions outlined in our Plan, include:

• The Clear Your Head campaign, which has provided practical advice on how to stay active, keep connected with friends and family, and create healthy routines to help get through the crisis.
• The expansion of the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub so that it is available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The establishment of Mental Health Assessment Centres. These Centres provide the assessment of unscheduled mental health needs for anyone presenting in mental health crisis or distress, in a separate location to emergency departments. This has had a positive impact for people presenting with mental health needs, ensuring they receive the right support at the right time while also alleviating pressure on Emergency Departments.
• The expansion of digital services. As with all health services, mental health services had to adapt quickly to delivering support and care in different ways. Many Health Boards have moved parts of their services online, and provided less urgent care digitally using Near-Me. We will further build on this success with the roll-out of Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which will support a minimum of a further 10,000 people.
• The roll out of the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme on a national basis. DBI gives people over 16 who present in emotional distress the opportunity to be referred for further dedicated support.