New coronavirus mental health network in Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced that people who have been hospitalised with coronavirus will have access to a new national peer support network to help their recovery and rehabilitation.

Backed with an investment of £200,000, the charity ICU Steps will connect ICU survivors and their families across Scotland to facilitate patient-led support groups, as well as offering a range of well-being resources to help with recovery.

The announcement follows the publication of a report showing up to one-third of patients admitted to hospital developed serious mental health consequences, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and cognitive problems.

As part of the report, psychiatrist Dr Nadine Cossette made a number of other recommendations which the Scottish Government has said will be taken forward, through consultation with health boards. These include a network of mental health clinicians across Scotland, and a personalised digital platform.

Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “We know that treatment in Intensive Care and High Dependency Units can be particularly difficult for patients. This has been exacerbated in recent times by the fact that families have not been able to visit their loved ones. Most will go on to make a full recovery, but for others there is a higher risk of developing mental health issues.

“We welcome the report by Dr Nadine Cossette which sets out a number of actions to improve mental health and well-being of patients.  The creation of a national peer support network, led by patients, will be a significant first step to ensuring that services supporting those who have been affected are well placed to respond. We will now consult with health boards on how best to implement these proposals locally to ensure that people have the right support throughout their recovery from Covid-19.”