What does the Health Promotion Department do?

The primary function of the Mental Health Team is to translate national initiatives into local action.

The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing set the following four key aims in 2001:

• Raising awareness and promoting mental health and well-being
• Eliminating stigma and discrimination
• Preventing suicide
• Promoting and supporting recovering

These have underpinned work nationally and within Forth Valley over the last few years and will inform our plans for the immediate future.  At the beginning of 2008, the Government circulated a consultation document - Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland - to invite comments about the proposed future direction of mental health improvement for 2008-11 and a local consultation event was held in Larbert on 12 February.  For up to date information on the National Programme and its key initiatives please see www.wellscotland.info.

 Mental health is and will remain a priority at national and local level and our contribution to disseminating information, evidence and skills aims to address the four key areas of the Programme.

This work within the Health Promotion Department  is led by the Senior Health Promotion Officer for Mental Health Improvement, however as mental health spans such a wide variety of issues, other teams (ie. workplace, education, substance use) are actively contributing to the Programme's aims in their own fields.