The Scottish government  leads a debate on keeping children safe online. 

Here is the government motion.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government will lead a debate entitled ‘Keeping Children Safe Online’.   

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell thanks members for their contributions. 

Ms Campbell says Ms Ross's friend, Sally, is an example of the difficult journey some have to embark upon. 

The public health minister says the third sector play a crucial role and the Scottish government has a good relationship with Action for ME and has provided funding to the organisation. 

She says Action for ME are about to embark on a five year mentoring programme which aims to reduce the isolation of those with ME.

Ms Campbell says the government will continue to develop a system which puts equality and respect at the heart of its approach. 

She says there is a hugely committed workforce within Scotland's health service. 

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Tory MSP Alison Harris says ME affects almost a quarter of a million people in the UK.

Ms Harris refers to to the paper written by two psychiatrists 40 years ago which has influenced perceptions of ME ever since.

The Tory MSP says we are no closer to a clinical diagnosis of ME and she says much needs to done to alleviate the suffering of patients.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says the reason May the 12th is chosen as ME Awareness Day is because it is the day Florence Nightingale was born and she was believed to have suffered from the disease.

Mr Sarwar says almost a quarter of a million people across the UK are known to suffer from ME.

The Labour MSP says a good way that ME was described to him was that it is like a battery, sometimes the person has high energy and other times that person has low energy. 

Mr Sarwar says healthcare professionals need to be properly trained to diagnose ME. 

Florence Nightingale was so much more than a lady with a lamp. The legend of the saintly nurse has long obscured the truth – that her mathematical genius was what really saved so many lives.

Her ambition led her into the hellish world of Crimean warfare and, as a result, on a journey that would transform nursing and hospitals in Britain.

Learn more about Florence Nightingale here.

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Tory MSP Brian Whittle says he hopes today's debate and tomorrow's International ME Awareness Day will raise awareness of the condition.

Mr Whittle says not that long ago ME was written off as "yuppie flu".

He says much more needs to be done to give support to ME sufferers and their families within the NHS.

Mr Whittle says the support varies across Scotland and says there is only one ME nurse in the country.

It's not just recognition, but action that is required he says.

SNP MSP Emma Harper, who is a nurse, says ME is arguably one of the most misunderstood illnesses. 

Ms Harper says many people do not realise that this disease can follow an illness or fever. 

The SNP MSP says there is a disproportionate number of women diagnosed with the disease.

"This can affect every aspect of people's daily lives," she says. 

Taken from May 12 International Awareness website, external:

"Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a severe chronic illness in which symptoms are worsened by physical exertion. In some countries and some literature, ME is referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

The term Myalgic Encephalomyelitis can be broken down as “My” referring to muscle and “algic” to pain. “Encephalo” referring to the brain, “myel” to spinal cord and “it is” denotes inflammation.

May 12th was chosen as it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale. She was believed to have suffered from ME/CFS. In 2010, a write-up was done to give a history of May 12th, external."  

Ms Ross says one of her friends, who suffers form ME, was supposed to be in the gallery today but that she could not be here.

The SNP MSP says she was mis-diagnosed and was told she was not ill enough to claim disability benefits. 

She says she fully believes that, if she had been diagnosed earlier, her symptoms would not have escalated to the same extent.

Ms Ross calls for a fair welfare system which will meet the needs of those suffering from the illness. 

She says tomorrow people will be placing shoes outside the parliament to raise awareness of ME. 

Image source, MEA

The ME Association aims to support people with ME/CFS through all stages of their illness.  

Learn more here, external.

SNP MSP Gail Ross says tomorrow is International ME Awareness Day and it affects over 21,000 adults and children in Scotland.

Ms Ross says she does not know how many people remain un-diagnosed or have been mis-diagnosed. 

The SNP MSP says symptoms can fluctuate over time and there is no cure but some sufferers spend thousands of pounds on so-called "snake-oil treatments".

Ms Ross says ME cannot go on being treated as a psychological illness because "it is not all in the mind".

SNP MSP Gail Ross uses her motion to highlight the international awareness day for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which is commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ms Ross says tat ME is often labelled as a "silent" illness but can bring great mental and physical exhaustion to those living with it.

Image source, Thinkstock

The SNP MSP says that over 20,000 adults and children in Scotland have the condition and that the effects include cognitive impairment, poor short-term memory, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal problems and food intolerance.

She praises the work of the various charities across Scotland and beyond in highlighting the circumstances faced by people with ME, and commends them on the support that they offer.  

Image source, Action for ME

Taken from the Action for M.E., external website:

"Action for M.E. takes action to end the ignorance, injustice and neglect faced by people with M.E. We do this by meeting need now to improve the lives of people with M.E.  while taking action to secure change for the future. Read more about this in our 2016-2021 strategy, external."

Here is SNP MSP Gail Ross's motion. 

Image source, Scottish Parliament