Poverty and the cost of living crisis: The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
As part of Challenge Poverty Week 2022, the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart has written exclusively for SASW about the role of the Scottish Government's Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in tackling mental health inequalities brought about by financial insecurity.
I am pleased to lend my support to the Scottish Association of Social Work during Challenge Poverty Week, and recognise the good work in supporting communities across Scotland. Poverty is the single biggest driver of poor mental health and there can be no doubt that the cost of living crisis will have implications for mental health and wellbeing. That is why I have invested a total of £36 million over the last two years in the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults (the Fund).
The Fund, launched in October 2021, recognises the important role that small, grass roots community groups play in supporting adult mental health and wellbeing. It aims to tackle mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, and to address priority issues such as social isolation, loneliness and suicide, with a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention.
In its first year, the Fund supported a diverse range of over 1800 projects across Scotland. I have visited some of these and have seen first-hand the value this funding has brought to communities, helping them to respond to wellbeing challenges and strengthen community resilience. The case studies below highlight the powerful impacts of some projects in Arran and Ayrshire addressing poverty and financial wellbeing.
As we move into the second year of the Fund (with local application processes going live later this month), I recognise that the cost of living challenge is increasingly affecting communities and their mental health and wellbeing. This is why the Fund has a focus on responding to the cost crisis and places a deepened importance on supporting mental health and wellbeing initiatives which help people facing socio-economic disadvantage, one of the Fund’s priority ‘at risk’ groups.
We know that people may be experiencing stress and anxiety during these exceptional and uncertain times. It has never been more important to look after our mental health. In addition to the Fund, a range of work is underway to ensure that the right help is available, in the right place, at the right time. As well as record levels of investment in mental health services and community mental health support, a Cost of Living portal has been created to ensure the right advice and signposting is available for anyone affected by the crisis. As well as broader advice on energy, debt and benefits, the portal signposts to our Mind to Mind website which highlights the practical things people can do to help improve their mental wellbeing and resilience. As money worries can have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing, the Mind to Mind ‘Coping with money worries’ page includes links to sources of practical advice to support people struggling with money worries and the cost of living.
I recognise the scale of the challenge we face and fully appreciate the valuable role small scale community projects are playing in supporting our mental health and wellbeing through this difficult time. A couple of examples of this important work have been provided by North Ayrshire TSI which highlight the impact of poverty and financial wellbeing focused projects are available to view below.