Image source, See Me

New research has indicated nearly 30% of Scots say they have experienced mental health problems.

Commissioned by the mental health campaign See Me, the YouGov poll of 1,004 adults found 29% reported having had problems themselves.

It also suggested 39% said a family member had been affected.

The research found 35% of respondents believed they or a family member had experienced stigma or discrimination because of their mental health.

Read more here.

Image source, Scottish government

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt delivers a statement on the Mental Health Strategy.

The Scottish government has consulted on its 10 year vision for mental health, external .

The afternoon session in the chamber is given over entirely to a series of important ministerial statements on the mental health strategy, transvaginal mesh implants, fracking and enterprise and skills review.

Image source, WILL CROCKER

2:30pmMinisterial Statement: Mental Health Strategy

First up is the much anticipated mental health strategy. 

The draft mental health strategy faced criticism from a number of quarters and opposition parties will be forensically dissecting the finished product on what is one of the most important health issues of the moment.

Image source, bbc

3.15-3.45pm Ministerial Statement: Transvaginal Mesh Implants 

Then there will be a ministerial statement on transvaginal mesh implants, following the expert at the centre of the independent review group looking at the safety of mesh implants resigning. 

This in turnfollowed the resignation of two patient representatives who claimed the report had been watered down and the final report being removed entirely.

The government has in turn accepted all the recommendations of the report.

Image source, Getty Images

3.45-4.15pmMinisterial Statement: Unconventional Oil and Gas 

There will then be a ministerial statement on unconventional oil and gas, coming after the government’s defeat on fracking. 

The Scottish Parliament voted to support an outright ban on fracking after SNP MSPs abstained.

Image source, PA

4.15-4.45pmMinisterial Statement: Enterprise and Skills Review 

Finally the government will give a statement on its extremely controversial enterprise and skills review. 

The government plan to create a Scotland-wide statutory board co-ordinating the activities of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council has led to two defeats for the SNP already.  

Image source, SRUC

Ms Somerville says there are currently no plans to withdraw from the Elmwood campus.

The further education minister says the student support review is ongoing and with regard to overseas students it would be helpful if the UK government clarified the UK's position post-Brexit.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie intervenes to ask the minister to address the point of timing and the need for decisions ahead of the academic year.

Ms Somerville says she has already stated that the intention is to encourage students to enrol in courses at Elmwood campus for the coming academic year.

The minister concludes which ends this member's debate. 

Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says everyone in the chamber can agree on the importance of finding the right learning opportunities for people in the North East Fife area.

Ms Somerville says she broadly welcomes Mr Rennie's motion.

The minister says the split between Fife college and the SRUC was not arbitrary and that the SRUC are conducting a strategic plan.

She says the government and ministers cannot intervene in this because the SRUC are autonomous but says she would expect students and teachers to be involved in this. 

Mr Rennie says North East Fife has a rich agricultural heritage which was the reason for the college in the first place.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says the Elmwood Campus in Cupar requires a new building.

He says decisions need to be made now in time for the coming academic year. 

"We need a joint plan, funding for student places and a new building," he says. 

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says the Elmood Campus is a great seat for learning. 

Mr Rennie says North East Fife needs a "vibrant hub of learning" for the future.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader highlights the courses available at the rural college. 

He says the government decided to split the college between Fife college and the SRUC which left Elmwood facing cuts and "rudderless". 

Image source, SRUC Elmwood

Mr Rennie uses his motion to say Elmwood College in Cupar , external was the first regional farm centre to be established in Scotland.

He highlights its work in rural education including its worldwide expertise in golf education and training.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says the college functions were divided between the Scottish Rural University College and Fife College in November 2013, before Fife College vacated the Elmwood Campus in summer 2016.

Mr Rennie is concerned there are now fewer students studying at Elmwood and fewer courses available.

However he welcomes the discussions between Fife College, SRUC and the Scottish Funding Council on a plan for the future, and hopes that this will result in a sustainable partnership delivering more courses for more students.  

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie will now lead a debate on the future of Elmwood Campus.

Fife College was launced in 2013 - made up of Adam Smith College and Carnegie College plus staff from the Elmwood campus of Scotland's Rural College in Cupar.

Read more here.