Question reference: S6W-14552
- Date lodged: 31 January 2023
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether mental health professionals within the NHS are trained to identify pressures of financial strain in patients and signpost to money advice services if appropriate.
Answer
As part of a person-centred assessment, Mental Health professionals (e.g. mental health nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists) working in the NHS are skilled in discussing a wide range of factors that may impact a person’s mental health and wellbeing. This could include financial wellbeing where they will signpost to appropriate help or liaise with local services and/or local authority colleagues.
More specific training on financial wellbeing/inclusion takes place locally, as part of local initiatives and/or promoted through partnership approaches. This is a matter for local partnerships/health boards and as such this information is not held centrally.