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Gordon Johnston

@gordon-johnston.bsky.social

Independent mental health consultant, peer researcher. Board member: Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland & NHS Forth Valley. Chair of VOX Scotland. (All views mine alone) All things mental health from a lived experience perspective. (NB: new account!)

126 Followers  |  237 Following  |  56 Posts  |  Joined: 03.02.2025  |  1.8113

Latest posts by gordon-johnston.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
Charities demand answers from Scottish Government over secret ยฃ16m mental health cut Groups including SAMH and the RCGPs say ministers need to explain a gap in mental health funding exposed by the Autumn Budget Revision.

Thanks to Sunday Herald for covering this - looks like there is a mid year cut to SG's Mental Health Services budget - but the figures are unclear. Scotland's Mental Health Partnership has written to the minister. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2551697...

06.10.2025 07:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Trump attacks Tylenol as officials unveil highly contentious conclusions on autism President says acetaminophen โ€“ also known as paracetamol - increases risk when taken by pregnant women, assertion contradicted by research

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... It's not contentious. It's nonsense based on no scientific evidence whatsoever. Just more made up nonsense.

23.09.2025 08:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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๐Ÿšจ Itโ€™s here!

Scotlandโ€™s Mental Health: Itโ€™s Time for Action, partnership manifesto for urgent & lasting change.

17 organisations. One call: bold action to end Scotlandโ€™s mental health emergency.

Read more: smhp.scot

#ItsTimeForAction #MentalHealthScotland

15.09.2025 07:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Coming next Monday ...

12.09.2025 11:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Scotlandโ€™s mental health is in crisis & we need urgent action.

Next week, as part of Scotlandโ€™s Mental Health Partnership, we launch Scotlandโ€™s Mental Health: Itโ€™s Time for Action, a manifesto calling on government to act with ambition, urgency and compassion.

Follow for updates.

10.09.2025 08:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Through in Edinburgh at COSLA for a day of suicide prevention planning. Lots of discussions and a new Action Plan to come.

01.09.2025 08:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Published responses for Pre-budget scrutiny 2026-27, with a focus on mental health spending - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space Find and participate in consultations run by the Scottish Parliament

yourviews.parliament.scot/health/pre-b... 50 responses published to to Health and Sport Ctte. Check out Scotland's Mental Health Partnership's submission - and those of several of our member organisations

22.08.2025 10:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A full day of interviews ahead. Looking to add another member of the @voxscotland.bsky.social team in a new role

14.07.2025 07:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Train from Glasgow delayed due to "animals on the line". What??

09.07.2025 14:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Come and join us @voxscotland.bsky.social

07.07.2025 10:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wordle 1,479 4/6 ... A pleasing pattern even if it did take a few

๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉโฌœโฌœโฌœ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉโฌœโฌœ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉโฌœ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ

07.07.2025 07:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A reminder ...

12.06.2025 08:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The Scottish Government reorganisation has reached the ministerial ranks, with Maree Todd moving to Alcohol and Drugs Policy (& Sport). Tom Arthur will take on Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.

11.06.2025 12:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Diverse Experiences Advisory Panel (DEAP) The Diverse Experiences Advisory Panel (DEAP) brings together people from various communities and backgrounds with varied lived experiences and perspectives.

We are looking for new members of DEAP! This is a targeted recruitment, looking to add members from communities we are not currently reaching. See the web page for details www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/pol...

06.06.2025 07:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Wordle 1,443 2/6 ... Some days you just get lucky

โฌœโฌœโฌœ๐ŸŸจโฌœ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ

01.06.2025 10:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Save the semicolon!

19.05.2025 08:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Graphic with a purple background. It says "Be an ally" in a handdrawn font in the middle. This is surrounded by drawings of a megaphone, a protest sign, a donation bucket and a trans symbol badge. Below this it says equality-network.org/be-an-ally". In the bottom are the Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos.
Graphic with a purple background. It says "Be an ally" in a handdrawn font in the middle. This is surrounded by drawings of a megaphone, a protest sign, a donation bucket and a trans symbol badge. Below this it says equality-network.org/be-an-ally". In the bottom are the Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos.

Graphic with a purple background. It says "Be an ally" in a handdrawn font in the middle. This is surrounded by drawings of a megaphone, a protest sign, a donation bucket and a trans symbol badge. Below this it says equality-network.org/be-an-ally". In the bottom are the Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos. Graphic with a purple background. It says "Be an ally" in a handdrawn font in the middle. This is surrounded by drawings of a megaphone, a protest sign, a donation bucket and a trans symbol badge. Below this it says equality-network.org/be-an-ally". In the bottom are the Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos.

Allies! We need you!

Trans rights are increasingly coming under attack in the UK - we need you to use your voice in solidarity w/ the trans community.

Visit our website to buy a fundraiser ally pack or email your representatives in support of trans rights!

www.equality-network.org/make-your-vo...

19.05.2025 08:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 24    ๐Ÿ” 11    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Post image 15.05.2025 10:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Heading for Glasgow this morning for the Suicide Prevention Scotland conference. A day of Creating Hope Together.

15.05.2025 06:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This adds up to 128 - are there not 129 seats?

07.05.2025 12:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wordle 1,418 6/6 ... just got there

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๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉโฌœโฌœ๐ŸŸจ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸจ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸจ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ

07.05.2025 07:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

100,000 additional GP appointments sounds good. But there are around 4,000 GPs in Scotland, so that equates to 25 additional appointments per GP over the year.

So your GP will offer one additional appointment every fortnight.

06.05.2025 17:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wordle 1,416 5/6 ... Tricky

๐ŸŸฉโฌœโฌœโฌœโฌœ
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๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ

05.05.2025 09:14 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Most companies do this - I'd say auto renewal should be off by default and only on if you make a deliberate choice to do so

04.05.2025 09:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Graphic with a purple background. It says "Read our letter to the Scottish Parliament on the potential impacts of last week's UK Supreme Court ruling". The Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos are at the bottom.

Graphic with a purple background. It says "Read our letter to the Scottish Parliament on the potential impacts of last week's UK Supreme Court ruling". The Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos are at the bottom.

Weโ€™ve shared our initial response to the UKSC ruling with the Equalities, Human Rights & Civil Justice Committee.

It is too early to know for sure exactly what it will mean โ€“ but it could have some extremely harmful impacts on trans people.

Find out more: www.scottishtrans.org/supreme-cour...

25.04.2025 10:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 13    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wordle 1,404 4/6 ... Nice one today

โฌœโฌœโฌœโฌœ๐ŸŸฉ
โฌœโฌœ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ
โฌœโฌœ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ

23.04.2025 08:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Interesting figures. But among people with severe mental health conditions, smoking rates remain very high. This is one of the key reasons for the 20 year mortality gap.

22.04.2025 09:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Some good suggestions. I can see the case for Health Board reform but I'm not convinced three covering the whole country is enough. They would be very big and likely create divisions or sub structures adding another layer. And should local government reform be part of the picture - is 32 too many?

22.04.2025 07:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wordle 1,400 4/6 ... Tricky one today

โฌœโฌœโฌœโฌœโฌœ
โฌœ๐ŸŸจโฌœ๐ŸŸฉโฌœ
โฌœ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸจ๐ŸŸฉโฌœ
๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ๐ŸŸฉ

19.04.2025 07:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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There will be more consequences of yesterday's ruling like this to come ...

17.04.2025 13:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@gordon-johnston is following 20 prominent accounts