Mental Health Awareness Week: Expert help to ensure our staff understand mental health

We recognise the importance of having a full understanding of mental health conditions in order to best support our clients and make sure they get the financial support they are entitled to when applying for our disability benefits.

To ensure we are continually evolving in this area, we have in-house staff who have experience of working in mental health who provide advice to client advisors, as well as holding learning sessions to share their experience and expertise.

Mental health conditions can impact people’s day to day to life in different ways. Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment are provided to contribute to the various additional costs that disabled people experience. For example, it could help pay for therapy, getting to support groups or taking part in activities, all of which can help to improve mental health and wellbeing.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, we spoke to registered mental health nurse and Education and Development Lead at Social Security Scotland, Aille McGinty.

Allie is one of our expert health and social care practitioners who can provide extra support to our case managers when they are making decisions on disability payment applications so that they have a full and accurate understanding of how different mental health conditions can impact people’s daily life. This helps them make decisions that reflect the individual needs of the person applying.

Allie commented:

“Mental health is really important to me as a mental health nurse. Mental health is complex so I work with our colleagues on understanding these conditions and to share best practice.

“We recognise that we need to have a good understanding and background knowledge of various conditions to make the right decision and make a difference to people’s lives. This could be by simply having the money to take a taxi instead of public transport to community resources that promote wellbeing. This gives people the flexibility that they normally wouldn’t be able to afford.”

To find out more about disability benefits and apply online, over the phone or book an appointment to apply in-person, people can visit mygov.scot/benefits or call us free on 0800 182 2222.