We are Scotland’s national collective advocacy organisation for mental health.

vox scotland

Projects

Making a difference on mental health policy, law and services.

VOX works alongside our individual and group members, as well as others with lived experience of mental health problems, to develop key programmes of work based on our members priorities and other current important areas of work.

We do this by: 

  • Asking our members to prioritise our work areas
  • Working alongside members to co-produce projects
  • Facilitating discussion groups
  • Use surveys, polls and social media to capture our members views

We make sure these views positively influence changes to policy, practice, and research.

With Us, For Us

VOX Scotland and Scottish Recovery Network worked in partnership to deliver an exciting new project called ‘With Us For Us’. We asked people to share what helps them on their recovery journey and feel more able to deal with life’s challenges. This project is aimed at people who may have a diagnosis of personality disorder, or people who have experienced complex trauma and feel it has shaped their lives.

The project aims are to ensure people with lived experience can shape the future of the mental health system in Scotland. In particular, capture what you feel needs to happen to develop effective support and services for people who may attract a diagnosis of personality disorder.

Empathy and Connection in Clinical Services

Our members often state that they need to feel as though clinical staff care or show empathy and connect with them on a human level, in order to create change our members and volunteers produced a members led film entitled “longing for a connection” and we are using this to influence policy and practice.

If you would like to get involved in a project looking at the issues around empathy and connection within services alongside others with lived experience

Mental Health Strategy

In 2022 The Scottish Government consulted on a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. VOX Scotland undertook a range of engagement sessions with individual members, group members, and partners to ensure that your voices were heard in the development of the strategy.

You can read the full Scottish Government consultation document on the Strategy here:

Animation: Mental Health and Covid-19

On 28th October 2021 we released a new animation to amplify the voices of those with lived experience of mental ill-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Volunteers from Jean’s Bothy in Helensburgh shared their experiences of isolation, being unable to access the right support, and feeling overwhelmed by the impact of the pandemic.

The animation contains a clear call for flexible and attentive services, and strongly emphasises the importance of community, belonging, and connection.

We would like to thank all of the volunteers from Jean’s Bothy in Helensburgh for sharing their experiences, and the media co-op for producing the animation.

If you have any thoughts or questions regarding the animation please contact us.

This Is Me

‘This is Me’ is our blog series highlighting individual lived experiences of mental health problems. In this series, VOX Scotland members share their stories and reflect on what must change to ensure positive mental health for all.

His series will explore a range of themes including barriers to accessing mental health services, isolation and loneliness, and the intersection of poverty and mental health.

National Care Service Consultation

Following engagement with members, VOX Scotland has submitted and published its response to The Scottish Government’s consultation on the proposed National Care Service.

VOX Scotland welcomes the opportunity to present our members’ views on the National Care Service consultation and hopes to positively influence the way in which these plans are taken forward, with particular regard to the impact on mental health services and support, informed by a lived experience perspective.

During August, September, and October 2021 we engaged with 41 participants from different areas of Scotland, including Argyll & Bute, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow, Lothian, and Highlands. Participants were diverse in terms of their mental health problems, and, also in terms of age, gender, LGBT status, ethnic identity, and socio-economic circumstances.

Engagement with our VOX group members also took place, including:

  • CAPS Advocacy
  • Time and Space
  • Acumen
  • Lanarkshire Links
  • Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow
  • Advocard

Our participants’ responses highlight that the most important need is for improvement in access to, and quality of, mental health services and support across Scotland, with concerns that the proposed National Care Service may not necessarily deliver this.

VOX Scotland’s consultation submission emphasises the need for:

  • Significant investment in the social care sector – particularly in mental health services and support
  • Improved communication amongst services, and greater involvement of service users in decisions both about their individual care and the design and delivery of services more widely
  • Clarity on how a National Care Service would end the ‘postcode lottery’ of service provision across Scotland, and how eligibility criteria can allow everyone to access the support they need, when they need it

You can read VOX Scotland’s full consultation response here:

VOX Scotland is a national membership organisation, open to all people in Scotland with lived experience of mental health difficulties. We represent the views of our 500+ individual, group, and associate members to politicians and health professionals – making sure that Scotland’s laws and mental health services reflect their needs and interests.

Company Info

Company Limited by Guarantee
No 361753
Registered Charity in Scotland
No SC040646

Terms & Conditions

Contact Us

VOX Scotland
Floor 2, 
Moncreiff House,
69 West Nile Street,
Glasgow
G1 2QB

0141 226 9856

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Join Vox

We focus on the issues that matter to our members and undertake research and provide training to make sure our members views are heard. We are open and transparent and share our work with a national audience.

Memberships

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