External Influences Impacting Change Mental Health
Change Mental Health is a charity providing mental health support services across Scotland. There are various external influences that shape its activities and operations. Three of the most significant external influences are technological factors, the regulatory landscape, and socioeconomic trends.
In the past decade, technological advancements, like digital communication tools and telehealth platforms, have enhanced Change Mental Health’s operations. This has expanded the reach of users through virtual counselling and support services, improving accessibility and efficiency while facilitating remote communication and overcoming barriers for service users (O’ Connor et al. 2020).
The regulatory landscape significantly influences organisation like Change Mental health, particularly in the mental health sector in Scotland. Evolving regulations impact the organisation’s services, quality standards, and financial resources. The responsibility of keeping abreast of these changes, ensuring compliance, credibility, and ethical standards, fall under the responsibility of people professionals. Changes in the regulatory landscape also impact the organisation, with main effects on health and safety, governance, and legal compliance (Smith and Johnson 2019).
Socioeconomic trends impact Change Mental Health, as they shape its operational environment as a mental health organisation. Contrarily, increased funding opportunities allow the organisation to provide better quality services in larger areas. Socioeconomic trends, such as unemployment and financial instability, impact the need for mental health services, potentially resulting in longer wait lists for users. These trends also drive innovative approaches, as evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, essential adaptations, such as remote counselling platforms and support groups (McDaid D., Knapp M., and Raja S. 2008).
