Did you know, that in Scotland, it isn’t mandatory for GPs and Practice Nurses to undertake any form of mental health training?

Did you know that men are three times more likely than women to commit suicide, and it’s the biggest killer of men between the ages of 20-49?

Did you know that only 8% of the yearly budget for the NHS is allocated to mental health?

My name is Robyn, and I suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder. Due to this, I suffer from severe depression and anxiety, a disturbed sense of identity, chaotic personal relationships, a higher risk of self harming and suicidal thoughts, splitting (all or nothing thinking), and severe mood swings just to name a few. 
I was diagnosed when I was 19 after a serious suicide attempt. Prior to my diagnosis, I was given numerous misdiagnoses and constantly sent away with a prescription that made me worse. I’ve been put on the waiting list numerous times o to be assessed for help from the mental health hospital in Aberdeen, but never heard back. When I went to my GP, I was very rarely taken seriously, or was left to the point that I had to be trying to take my life for them to do the bare minimum. 
A lot of this is due to underfunding for mental health, and I feel that in order to help those of us who suffer from mental health, we need better and sufficient funding!

This year alone, I have lost 3 people to suicide. They were all failed by the NHS, and I refuse to let this go on. I have lost the love of my life, and my daughter has lost her daddy. We don’t deserve to be swept under the rug; we deserve to be heard!

I am asking the Scottish Government to take mental health more seriously, and stop making promises when they need to take action. 

I struggle everyday with my mental health. My daughter has already lost her daddy; she can’t lose her mummy. 

In memory of Chris, Zoe, and Shaun x