Anyone struggling with their mental health may face delays when seeking treatment and accessing services as the number of mental health officers (MHOs) has fallen across Scotland.
An estimated 79 extra full time mental health officers are needed to meet the shortfall in the workforce across local authorities in Scotland. That figure was revealed in a new report published by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
The number of local authorities reporting a shortfall in the MHO workforce has increased to 26, from 23 the previous year. Local authorities reporting a shortfall estimated an extra 2,840 MHO hours were required each week, which is up 49 per cent on the previous year.
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Claire Gallagher, head of operations at Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH), said: “We are trying to prevent people from going into the system of hospital stays because the hospitals are obviously overrun. So, by not having community health officers, it means that people are not going to get the help that they need or access to services that they require.
“Part of the Scottish Government is that all services are to be accessible as part of their mental health strategy and if there is a reduction of mental health officers, then part of that system is already broken before it starts.”
Most local authorities saw either no rise in shortfall or shortfall remaining the same, however 14 areas did see rises. One local authority, Renfrewshire, now accounts for 25 per cent of the total shortfall.
MHOs are specially trained social workers who carry out statutory duties in relation to mental health legislation. The reported shortfalls in staffing could result in delays to people accessing services, appropriate treatment and care and hospital discharges.
Maree Allison, SSSC Acting Chief Executive said: “This report shows local authorities are facing significant challenges in providing the number of MHO hours needed to meet demand.
“While some local authorities report no shortfall, others are well short of the provision required, which amounts to a shortfall of 109.2 hours each week when taken as an average across the 26 local authorities reporting a shortfall.
“However, it also showed that although the number of MHO posts and the number of individuals working in them both dropped slightly in 2021, there was a very slight rise in the number of MHO hours worked when compared to 2020.
“It’s important that local authorities, the Scottish Government and others consider workforce planning, including succession planning and making sure enough people are training as MHOs, to meet future demand and our workforce data reports help them do that.”
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