Living Better: Improving the mental health and
wellbeing of people with long term conditions
Living Better is a new initiative which aims to improve the
mental health and wellbeing of people with diabetes and chronic
heart disease. It is funded by the Scottish Government and will run
from January 2008 to November 2010.
Why this focus?
Research indicates that approximately one in
three patients with diabetes and one in five patients with coronary
heart disease experience depression. There is evidence that
providing treatment and support for depression and other mental
health problems can bring a range of physical and psychological
benefits for this patient group, including improved glaecemic
control.
However, levels of detection and treatment for
mental health problems within primary care are not high, and it is
estimated that 50% of people with mental health problems go
undiagnosed. Furthermore treatment for patients with long term
conditions and mental health problems can be complex, and best
practice is not universally understood.
What will Living Better do?
Living Better will start from the position that patients with
diabetes and / or CHD deserve a holistic assessment of their needs
(mental and physical), matched by appropriate services to meet
these needs.
In order to achieve this the project team will work with GPs,
Community Health Partnerships, patients and carers to improve the
detection of mental health problems in people with CHD and / or
diabetes and improve the support that they receive for these
problems.
Participating areas will have access to a range of resources to
help them enhance support for this patient group, including
training and learning opportunities, partnership development,
advice on best practice, and research and evaluation.
We will work to ensure that responses reflect patient choices,
and that learning from the project is shared within local areas and
across Scotland as a whole.
Where will Living Better
operate?
The project will focus on 6 pilot sites, where a range of
activities will be developed. Details of these pilot sites will be
posted on this website in the coming months.
Activities will include detailed assessments of patient and
carer needs and work with GPs and other health professionals to
develop new and improved support for patients.
Individuals and professionals out with the participating areas
will be able to tap into research and learning arising from the
project.
Who is Living Better?
Living Better is led by the Royal
College of GPs, 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, Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, and
Depression Alliance Scotland. The
project is funded by the Scottish Government.
Living Better Resources
Living Better
Information Leaflet
Living Better Bulletin
- Issue 1
Living Better Bulletin
- Issue 2
Living Better Bulletin
- Issue 3
If you would like to receive email bulletins or
updates from the Living Better Project, directly by email,
please contact Euan Bailey, Living Better Project Administrator
(contact details below)
Contact details
Amy Woodhouse, Living Better Project Officer
amy@sdcmh.org.uk
0131 555 5959
or
Euan Bailey, Project Administrator
ebailey@rcgp-scotland.org.uk
0131 260 6800