Living Better: Improving the mental health and
wellbeing of people with long term conditions
What is Living Better?
Living Better is led by RCGP
Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Development Centre for Mental
Health and the University of Stirling. Other partners
in the project include Diabetes UK Scotland, British
Heart Foundation (Scotland), Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, and
Depression Alliance Scotland. The
project is funded by the Scottish Government.
Living Better is an initiative
which aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people
with diabetes, chronic heart disease (CHD) and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD). The project will run from January
2008 to March 2011.
Why this focus?
Research indicates that
approximately one in three patients with diabetes and one in five
patients with coronary heart disease experience depression and
people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) are twice as likely to develop
anxiety and depression compared with people in the general
population .
There is evidence that
providing treatment and support for depression and other emotional
health problems can bring a range of physical and psychological
benefits for this patient group.
However, levels of detection
and treatment of emotional health problems within primary care are
not high. It is estimated that 50% of people with mental &
emotional health problems go undiagnosed. Treatment for
patients with long term conditions (LTC) can be complex and best
practice is not universally understood.
Where is Living Better
operating?
The project is focusing on Scottish
Community Health Partnership (CHP) pilot sites, where a range of
activities are being developed. Activities include
assessments of patient and carer needs, working with GPs and other
health professionals to develop new and improved support for
patients.
Individuals and professionals, out
with the participating CHP areas, will be able to tap into research
and learning arising from the project.
The following 5 sites are
participating in the project. If you would like to see in
more detail about what is happening in each area, please click on
the appropriate link.
*******Research Reports
from all of our pilot sites are now available to download - please
select site (above) and follow link*******
Living Better Resources
Please click here to see the list of resources in
relation to the Living Better Project.
Contact details
If you would like any further information on Living Better,
please contact:
Amy Woodhouse, Project Officer
Amy@sdcmh.org.uk
0131 555 5959
or
Euan Bailey, Project Administrator
ebailey@rcgp-scotland.org.uk
0131 260 6800