Well, it's properly back to work today. Let's hope 2026 is a good year.
Gordon Johnston
@gordon-johnston.bsky.social
Independent mental health consultant, peer researcher. Board member: Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland & NHS Forth Valley. Chair of VOX Scotland. (All views mine alone) All things mental health from a lived experience perspective. (NB: new account!)
A new blog by me for @thementalelf.bsky.social : www.nationalelfservice.net/other-health...
Rapid weight gain after SMI diagnosis, but why so few referrals for support? - National Elf Service
A 15-year analysis of UK primary care records showed steep and sustained weight gain after an SMI diagnosis, especially among younger adults and people prescribed antipsychotic medication. Yet very fe...
nationalelfservice.net
Thanks to Sunday Herald for covering this - looks like there is a mid year cut to SG's Mental Health Services budget - but the figures are unclear. Scotland's Mental Health Partnership has written to the minister. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2551697...
Charities demand answers from Scottish Government over secret £16m mental health cut
Groups including SAMH and the RCGPs say ministers need to explain a gap in mental health funding exposed by the Autumn Budget Revision.
heraldscotland.com
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... It's not contentious. It's nonsense based on no scientific evidence whatsoever. Just more made up nonsense.
Trump attacks Tylenol as officials unveil highly contentious conclusions on autism
President says acetaminophen – also known as paracetamol - increases risk when taken by pregnant women, assertion contradicted by research
theguardian.com
🚨 It’s here! Scotland’s Mental Health: It’s Time for Action, partnership manifesto for urgent & lasting change. 17 organisations. One call: bold action to end Scotland’s mental health emergency. Read more: smhp.scot #ItsTimeForAction #MentalHealthScotland
Scotland’s mental health is in crisis & we need urgent action. Next week, as part of Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership, we launch Scotland’s Mental Health: It’s Time for Action, a manifesto calling on government to act with ambition, urgency and compassion. Follow for updates.
Through in Edinburgh at COSLA for a day of suicide prevention planning. Lots of discussions and a new Action Plan to come.
yourviews.parliament.scot/health/pre-b... 50 responses published to to Health and Sport Ctte. Check out Scotland's Mental Health Partnership's submission - and those of several of our member organisations
Published responses for Pre-budget scrutiny 2026-27, with a focus on mental health spending - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by the Scottish Parliament
yourviews.parliament.scot
A full day of interviews ahead. Looking to add another member of the @voxscotland.bsky.social team in a new role
Train from Glasgow delayed due to "animals on the line". What??
Come and join us @voxscotland.bsky.social
Vox Scotland@voxscotland.bsky.social · last yr.We believe you should be leading the conversation — not sidelined by it. If you’ve ever felt unheard in your mental health journey, know this: your voice belongs here. Join our community & help shape mental health services across Scotland: voxscotland.org.uk/join #VoxVoices
Wordle 1,479 4/6 ... A pleasing pattern even if it did take a few 🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
The Scottish Government reorganisation has reached the ministerial ranks, with Maree Todd moving to Alcohol and Drugs Policy (& Sport). Tom Arthur will take on Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.
We are looking for new members of DEAP! This is a targeted recruitment, looking to add members from communities we are not currently reaching. See the web page for details www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/pol...
Diverse Experiences Advisory Panel (DEAP)
The Diverse Experiences Advisory Panel (DEAP) brings together people from various communities and backgrounds with varied lived experiences and perspectives.
mentalhealth.org.uk
Wordle 1,443 2/6 ... Some days you just get lucky ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Allies! We need you! Trans rights are increasingly coming under attack in the UK - we need you to use your voice in solidarity w/ the trans community. Visit our website to buy a fundraiser ally pack or email your representatives in support of trans rights! www.equality-network.org/make-your-vo...
Heading for Glasgow this morning for the Suicide Prevention Scotland conference. A day of Creating Hope Together.
Wordle 1,418 6/6 ... just got there ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟨🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟨🟩🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
100,000 additional GP appointments sounds good. But there are around 4,000 GPs in Scotland, so that equates to 25 additional appointments per GP over the year. So your GP will offer one additional appointment every fortnight.
Wordle 1,416 5/6 ... Tricky 🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
We’ve shared our initial response to the UKSC ruling with the Equalities, Human Rights & Civil Justice Committee. It is too early to know for sure exactly what it will mean – but it could have some extremely harmful impacts on trans people. Find out more: www.scottishtrans.org/supreme-cour...
Wordle 1,404 4/6 ... Nice one today ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Interesting figures. But among people with severe mental health conditions, smoking rates remain very high. This is one of the key reasons for the 20 year mortality gap.
Saloni@scientificdiscovery.dev · last yr.Once widespread, smoking is now uncommon in Great Britain 🧵
Wordle 1,400 4/6 ... Tricky one today ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜ ⬜🟩🟨🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
There will be more consequences of yesterday's ruling like this to come ...
Spot on. I'd hope anyone celebrating yesterday and seeing Farage, Badenoch, Daily Mail, etc etc, celebrating alongside them would take just a moment to reflect ...
Sarah K@dr-know.bsky.social · last yr.A week where being a woman is legally tied to “can carry children” and where feminism is matching outfits for billionaire boyfriend to send you to space. I dearly hope there’s no-one left still clinging to the idea that progress only goes one way, and you don’t have to fight to keep it every day.