Mental health fund given £30m over next two years

A mental health fund which has delivered almost 5,000 grants will receive £30 million in the next two years, the Scottish Government has said.

The communities mental health and wellbeing fund for adults – which has been supported by £66 million in funding since it was established in 2021 – has given 4,800 grants to local groups aimed at tackling mental health issues in adults.

The cash is used to tackle social isolation and loneliness as well as deal with mental health inequalities, and the fund is expected to open again for applications in October.

Mental health minister Maree Todd announced the funding during a visit to the Glasgow offices of Empower Women for Change – a group set up to support women from ethnic minority backgrounds.

“I am pleased to meet staff and service users at Empower Women for Change and hear more about the valuable work they do in the community they support,” she said.

“It is inspiring to see first-hand the impact that this funding can have.

“Since the fund was established, we have invested £66 million, reaching a variety of groups supporting those at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing – including people facing socio-economic disadvantage, older people and ethnic minority communities.

“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this further £30 million investment will make to the wellbeing of people and communities across Scotland.”

The group’s founder and chief executive Asma Abdalla said: “We are delighted and honoured to welcome the minister Maree Todd to our organisation.

“The wellbeing fund has played a transformative role in improving the lives of our service users of ethnic minority women and girls and our volunteers, members, and staff.”