Mental health: vulnerable groups

There are a number of groups with complex needs at particular risk of mental health problems. For a general overview of diversity in Scotland with reference to mental health, see Dimensions of diversity: Population differences and health improvement opportunities report. Some additional links for particular groups are given below.

Substance users (alcohol and drugs)

Detailed information on the health of people with substance misuse problems is provided elsewhere on the ScotPHO website (drugs and alcohol). For information on specific mental health problems and issues facing alcohol and drug users, and the prevalence of mental health problems among substance users in Scotland, see Mental Health in Scotland: Closing the Gaps – Making a Difference: Commitment 13 . In 2022, the Scottish Government published a literature and evidence review of co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns.

Ethnic minority groups

The Mental Health Inpatient Census publishes data on ethnicity of patients in mental health, addiction, and learning disability beds. In 2022, 1.9% of patients were Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British, 0.6% were African, African Scottish or African British, and 1.6% were of other/multiple ethnic groups.

In 2021, the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights published a report, Anti-racist policy making: Learning from the first 20 years of Scottish devolution (1073kB). The report contains a section on mental health amongst ethnic minority groups. 

For further information on specific mental health problems and issues facing ethnic minority groups in the UK, see the ethnic minorities section of the ScotPHO website.

Homeless people

The prevalence of mental health problems amongst homeless people is substantially higher than in the general population. A linkage study published in 2018 details the use of services of people experiencing homelessness in Scotland. 

Prisoners/offenders

Full details of the health of prisoners are provided on the dedicated ScotPHO page.

The Scottish Prison Survey collects data on prisoners' mental wellbeing using the WEMWBS (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale). Wellbeing amongst prisoners in Scotland has declined over time. In 2019, 31% of prisoners who completed the survey reported feeling optimistic about the future often or all of the time compared to 35% in 2015 and 2017, and 24% felt loved often or all of the time in 2019, compared to 30% in 2015 and 29% in 2017. 

In December 2008, a report on the Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems in Scotland's Prisons was published: this estimated the prevalence of these conditions within Scotland's prisoner population at 4.5% (note this is excluding Polmont).

People with learning disabilities

For information on specific mental health problems and issues facing people with learning disabilities, see the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory website and the NHS Health Scotland report People With Learning Disabilities In Scotland, 2004 (128kB). 

Public Health Scotland publishes annual inpatient data on patients with learning disabilities, with trend data currently ranging from 1997/98 to 2021/22.

Refugees

For information on mental health problems and issues facing refugees, see the Scottish Refugee Council. 

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary (LGBTQIA+)

The dedicated ScotPHO pages on sexual minorities and gender have more details of the health of these groups. Further information is also available on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning (LGBTIQ+), and mental health on MIND’s website and on the Mental Health Foundation’s website.