Health minister urges help for patients in cash crisis risiss

More help needs to be given to Scots whose mental health has suffered as a result of the financial crisis, public health minister Shona Robison said.

She said she wanted those working in the health service to be given more guidance on how to deal with patients suffering because of stress, redundancy and debt.

The minister also said she wanted more support for veterans returning from warzones.

Her comments came during the annual review of NHS Health Scotland, which promotes health improvement.

Ms Robison said health professionals could help by recognising people who may have problems caused by the economic downturn when they are being treated for other things. They could then be pointed to areas of support, such as debt counselling.

"I would want NHS Health Scotland to be talking to health boards and the voluntary sector about where there could be more joint working around meeting some of those needs," Ms Robison said.

"Clearly, the financial climate and the impact is something on everybody's minds, and there may be opportunities to work at how people are best supported."

Ms Robison also said she would like NHS Health Scotland to look more at the health of a growing number of veterans returning from warzones.

"We have some specific projects for veterans, but not every area has a service like that, so health professionals will come across them in their work and we want to make sure they are equipped to understand some of the issues that are there for veterans."

Mary Allison, director of programme design and delivery at NHS Health Scotland, said some projects were already under way to support people, including mental health first-aid training.