Working to improve quality of care and health outcomes for people with mental health and substance use conditions.
"The Way Ahead: Rapid Review of Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Conditions in Scotland", states that “Mental Health Services and Substance Use Services still need to find better ways of working together for the benefit of their patients”.
Recommendation 1 of the review is that “each area has an agreed protocol in relation to the operational interfaces between mental health services and substance use services.”
The Mental Health and Substance Use: Protocol Programme has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to develop, test, and support implementation of a good practice protocol for how mental health and substance use services should work together.
The National Mental Health and Substance Use Protocol provides guidance for local systems of care for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions
Through the development of the protocol and ongoing support this programme seeks to improve clinical practice, joint working and interfaces between services for the benefit of people accessing care.
Support for NHS boards and health and social care partnerships.
We support NHS boards and health and social care partnerships delivering mental health and / or substance use services to:
- understand their current systems of care
- develop, test and implement their own protocols,
- engage with people with lived experience of mental health and substance use, and
- actively participate in a national learning system.
Get involved
Joining our Mailchimp mailing list will ensure you receive all information and insights related to our programme activity including how to register for future events (more information below), useful resources and a quarterly newsletter.
If you would like to join our Mailchimp mailing list, please complete this form.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mental Health and Substance Use: Protocol Programme or how we can support you, email us at his.transformationalchangementalhealth@nhs.scot.
The mental health and substance use national learning system
The ongoing national learning system involves a series of learning sessions, as well as tools, case studies, and resources. These explore different elements and topics related to the National Mental Health and Substance Use Protocol and are accessible to professionals working across health and social care services, and other stakeholders.
We also host clinical network events with more of a mental health and substance use practitioner focus to provide an opportunity for learning and sharing of practice. Led by clinicians, these events create a space to discuss challenging issues, learn from each other and build a community of practice.