Annual report 2015-16

The Mental Welfare Commission published its annual report for 2015-16 today.

The report highlights the work we have done over the past year to protect and promote the human rights of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia and related conditions.

During the year, the Commission identified six priorities it asks to be included in Scottish Government's next mental health strategy. These include setting a new target to reduce the huge disparity in life expectancy between people with mental health issues and the general population, and a call for more to be done for children and young people.

Also in 2015-16, the Commission completed a major study into perinatal mental health in Scotland, highlighting the excellence of specialist in-patient services, and outlining gaps in the service, particularly in the community.

The Commission visited every Scottish hospital unit for people with learning disability, and found that almost a third of patients experienced a delayed discharge due to either a lack of funding, a lack of suitable accommodation, a lack of care provision or a combination of these.