Key Points
- Glasgow City Council faces continuous funding cuts to mental health services, exacerbating a city-wide crisis.
- Glasgow City Integration Joint Board (IJB) projects significant deficit in 2026-2027 budget, leading to service reductions.
- Cuts affect services like Sandyford Counselling, Lifelink Counselling, and Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service, causing longer waitlists.
- Councillors call for urgent funding review, reinstatement of Enhanced Mental Health Framework, and increased capacity for mental health support.
- 50% reduction in UK Government’s Local Growth Fund by 2028-29 threatens over half of third sector jobs in Glasgow.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) February 11, 2026 – Councillors have condemned a funding shake-up as a serious blow to the city’s most vulnerable residents, particularly those reliant on mental health services amid deepening budget deficits.
The Glasgow City Integration Joint Board anticipates another substantial shortfall in its 2026-2027 budget, following significant cuts already imposed for 2025-2026. These reductions have impacted a range of community and specialist services, leaving many unable to access timely support.
What funding changes are hitting Glasgow’s mental health services?
Glasgow City Council expressed deep concern over ongoing funding cuts to mental health services, as outlined in a motion by Councillor Lana Reid-McConnell. The cuts stem from the Scottish Government settlement to Glasgow City Council and the NHS Board, resulting in diminished capacity across adult and children’s services.
As reported by Councillor Lana Reid-McConnell of Glasgow City Council, the reductions include services such as the Sandyford Counselling Service, Lifelink Counselling, and the Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service, leading to increasing waitlists and serious delays for those with severe mental illness.
How are third sector workers affected by these cuts?
Third sector workers in Glasgow face redundancies due to a 50% reduction in funding for Scotland’s Local Growth Fund by 2028-29, with the shift towards capital spending putting more than half of these jobs at risk starting soon.
Which services face the greatest strain?
The lack of support not only harms mental health and wellbeing but also carries significant economic costs, particularly for those with neurodevelopmental conditions. Councillors noted that individuals who would typically qualify for referrals can no longer access community, primary care, or specialist services.
What responses are councillors proposing?
The council motion urges a coordinated approach with sufficient funding, including an urgent review of funding streams, immediate reinstatement of the Enhanced Mental Health Framework, and long-term capacity increases. It also calls for a non-domestic rates Public Health Supplement for large retailers to ringfence revenue for prevention-based services.
These measures aim to address the mental health crisis, though the projected IJB deficit underscores the scale of the challenge facing Glasgow’s vulnerable populations.
