Scotland is aiming to be a world leader in improving the public’s health, through a new vision for organisations and communities across the country.
The Scottish Government and COSLA have jointly published public health priorities for Scotland, aimed at focussing action across the public sector and voluntary sector and in communities. The priorities are the first milestone in a wider reform of public health.
The priorities set a direction for Scotland’s public services over the next decade, with the aim of organisations and communities working better together to focus on prevention, to reduce health inequality and increase healthy life expectancy. The priorities recognise that health and wellbeing is created in communities and through partnerships across sectors and that mental health must have parity with physical health, including commitments to enhance suicide prevention. Some 54 bodies across Scotland have already endorsed the priorities, reflecting a growing consensus and momentum for change.
The announcement of the priorities comes ahead of the publication of Scottish Government strategies and action plans covering tobacco, physical activity, diet, substance misuse and alcohol, and the creation of a new public health body in 2019.
Scotland’s public health priorities have been developed through a process of engagement with stakeholders from across Scotland. This process identified six public health priorities for Scotland, where by working together we can improve healthy life expectancy and reduce inequalities, the priorities are:
-
A Scotland where we live in vibrant, healthy and safe places and communities.
-
A Scotland where we flourish in our early years.
-
A Scotland where we have good mental wellbeing.
-
A Scotland where we reduce the use of and harm from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
-
A Scotland where we have a sustainable, inclusive economy with equality of outcomes for all.
-
A Scotland where we eat well, have a healthy weight and are physically active.
To find out more on the new public health body or on the priorities click here.