Samaritans Scotland has been joined by organisations across the sector in calling for a fairer, more supportive Scotland ahead of the Holyrood 2026 election.
Read our letter to candidates below.
As organisations working across mental health, poverty, suicide prevention and social connection, we are calling for urgent, preventative action to improve people's lives in Scotland.
Scotland is facing a serious and growing mental health crisis that demands urgent action from this parliament. Poverty, financial insecurity, social isolation, and poor access to early mental health support are driving distress and suicide risk, particularly in the most disadvantaged communities. The rate of suicide in Scotland's most deprived areas is 2.5 times higher than in the least deprived. Loneliness and social isolation affect one-in-five Scottish adults - disproportionately hitting disabled people, older people, and those living in poverty.
These are not inevitable outcomes. They are the result of policy choices.
As a new MSP, you can take Scotland in a different direction.
Ahead of the 2026 election, we are calling on you to commit to putting prevention, fairness and wellbeing at the heart of your work in parliament. Guided by the voices of people with lived experience of poverty, mental ill health and distress, this means committing to the following:
Commit to a Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) to strengthen social security. Financial insecurity is one of the strongest drivers of anxiety, distress, and suicide risk. Delivering a MIG, including raising the Scottish Child Payment to £55 per week, is one of the most effective forms of mental ill health prevention Scotland can make.
Invest in early and community-based mental health support. Allocate at least 10% of NHS funding to mental health and shift the balance of spending towards early intervention, community mental health and local third sector services, so people can get help before they reach crisis. Ensure people in contact with public services — including health, social care and the justice system — receive earlier, joined-up support. This will reduce pressure on acute services and improve long-term outcomes.
Declare reducing loneliness and social isolation as a public health priority. Sustained investment in befriending, community connection and peer support services is a life-saving public health intervention that reduces suicide risk, improves mental and physical health, and strengthens communities.
Support the workforce and volunteers who deliver care and connection by providing fair, multi-year funding; training and wellbeing support for the public, voluntary and community workforces who are critical to prevention, recovery and resilience. This should include staff across health, social care and justice settings, equipping them to recognise and respond to distress and suicide risk.
Taken together, these actions would not only save the lives of people in crisis, but will also help create a Scotland where fewer people are pushed into crisis in the first place.
Whether you are standing for the first time or hoping to be returned to parliament, your job comes with great responsibility. A new term means the opportunity to put mental health, poverty, and social connection at the top of parliament’s agenda.
Will you commit to delivering for a fairer, more supportive Scotland?
Yours sincerely,
Would you like to add your organisation's name to our letter? Email [email protected]