Adult Services - Equality Impact Assessments

Mental Health Support Service(s)

Summary impact assessment

Responsible Service

Adult Health and Social Care

Name of Policy/Strategy/Function/Project

Mental Health Support Service(s

What is the policy/strategy/function/trying to achieve/do?

The provision Mental Health Support Service(s) are aimed at aiding people in their mental health recovery to promote their mental well-being and to reduce likelihood of admission/re-admission to hospital and/or reduce dependency on other services as people are supported through the early stages of their recovery. The service may also be used at times of mental health crisis to help prevent psychiatric admission. The objectives of this aligns with statutory duties set out under the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and is also in accordance with the ambitions of the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2017-2027.

If this is a budget saving, how will the saving be achieved?

This is not a budget saving exercise, though the revised service specification will result in a budget saving over the lifetime of the new contract. The scope of the service has been reviewed with an emphasis on quality and appropriate service delivery, ensuring the right service at the right time to meet individual outcomes. By reducing the intervention period and directing people to existing local community supports, we are able to reduce the allocation to this provision. Additional resource has been allocated to the Community & Voluntary Sector to support mental health and wellbeing and individuals will be signposted to this range of local community-based services.

If this policy is subject to the FSD what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage? (please refer to FSD Interim Guidance)

Low income	Mental Health difficulties are more prevalent in those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. This could apply to those on lower incomes.
Low wealth	Mental Health difficulties are more prevalent in those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. This could apply to those of lower wealth.
Material deprivation	Mental Health difficulties are more prevalent in those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. This could apply to those materially deprived.
Area deprivation	Mental Health difficulties are more prevalent in those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. Mental Health difficulties which are reported are statistically more prevalent in areas of deprivation.

Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals

This should reflect your answer in sections 2 and 3.

Groups and Individuals	Details of Impact
Age (a particular age or range of ages)	Mental Health difficulties can impact upon all ages. The service will deliver to adults (over 16).
Disabled people and people with long term health conditions	The service is specifically for those who have experiencing mental health difficulties.
Women or men, girls or boys	Mental Health difficulties can affect all ages.
People defined by their race, colour and nationality, ethnic or national origins	These factors in themselves do not determine the prevalence of mental health difficulties, although those with these protected characteristics tend to be exposed to conditions of lower socio-economic status, which in turn leads to an increased prevalence of mental health difficulties.
Pregnant women and new mothers (including breastfeeding women)	Pregnant women and new mothers may be affected by peri-natal depression or other psychiatric diagnoses.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual people	Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition than their heterosexual counterparts.
People transitioning from one gender to another	People transitioning may face challenges such as gender dysphoria and discrimination. These may adversely impact upon their sense of mental well-being and mental health.
Care experienced young people	Almost half of those leaving care are likely to experience mental health difficulties in their life which is significantly higher than in the general population.
Homeless people	There is a higher prevalence of mental health difficulties among homeless people than found in the general population.
Looked after and accommodated people	As with Care Leavers, those young adults who have experienced LAAC are much more likely to experience mental health difficulties.
Armed Forces / ex service personnel	Recent evidence suggests that ex-Armed Forces personnel may be LESS likely to experience mental health difficulties than the general population.
Carers – paid / unpaid, family members	In 2023, Carers UK report that 68% of Carers report ‘bad or very bad’ mental health.
Asylum seekers	Refugees are x5 more likely to experience mental health difficulties than the general UK population.

What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?

Robust monitoring will be undertaken by Adults Services and Quality Assurance. Regular information through monitoring returns will be required by commissioned service. This will detail information about unmet need, improved referral routes, gaps in provision, successes and contractual outcomes achieved, therefore any issues should be identified at the earliest opportunity.

What is the result/recommendations of the EqIA?

Introduce the policy with justification for the revised service specification aligned to a new contract that will be in place from 1st February 2025.

Page last updated:
21 Oct 2024

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