Resource content
Context: Consultation revealed severe gaps in mental health service provision across Lothian.
Approach: Evidence gathering highlighted systemic capacity and access issues.
Implementation: Direct feedback: “My own experience is that mental health support in Lothian is essentially non-existent for people with moderate mental health conditions and inconsistent, difficult or impossible to access for people with long-term and more serious conditions.” (Source: 2020 Equality Outcomes Consultation, Lothian resident)
Impact: This evidence highlighted:
- Need for multiple routes into services
- Importance of understanding different access needs
- Recognition that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t work
- Requirement for capacity building across the system
Key learning:
- Capacity gaps directly impact equality outcomes
- Service design must consider varying needs
- User feedback reveals hidden barriers
- Systemic change requires sustained investment
(Source: Equality Outcomes 2021-2025 Consultation feedback, Edinburgh Council)