Young people are ‘waiting too long’ for mental health support
Young people in Renfrewshire desperate for help are being failed on their mental health, claims a politician.
Election candidate Julie Pirone branded it “shocking” that 112 youngsters in the wider health board area have spent more than a year languishing on a waiting list.
She wants the SNP government to throw money at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service ( CAMHS) to make a real impact in getting kids in front of experts quicker.
Julie, who is fighting the Renfrewshire North and West seat at May’s Scottish Parliament election for the Tories, blames years of neglect.
The political hopeful said even one child waiting a year for help is unacceptable - not 112.
Julie said: “The SNP are failing to hit mental health waiting time targets and they have had years to address the chronic lack of underfunding for mental health services in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board.
“Lockdown restrictions over the last year have increased the mental health pressures on vulnerable young people and that the SNP need to address the rising waiting times urgently.
“It is incredibly alarming to see the vast number of young people who have been waiting over a year for vital mental health treatment.
“As a mother I am acutely aware of the effect this has had on our children, one child waiting is one child too many.
“The SNP must address these appalling figures as a matter of urgency.
“Even prior to the pandemic, the SNP were routinely failing to hit mental health waiting time targets. Enough is enough. They need to use these figures as a wake-up call once and for all in order to get our young people treatment as quickly as possible.”
In January the Express revealed there are 314 Renfrewshire children needing help with depression, anxiety and behaviour disorders.
Even an average wait for families to get involved with the CAMHS service is around six months.
Across Scotland in December, a total of 1,560 children had been waiting over a year for treatment.
Julie added: “Too many of them are falling through the cracks as a result of the failures to properly fund mental health services.
“Ministers must outline how they will support health boards, charities and support organisations in tacking mental health waiting times and drive down these shocking figures.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the current figure for children waiting over a year was 103.
And there was a dip in demand in the early part of the pandemic.
A spokesman said: “We aim to help every child and young person who comes to us, seeing and treating those who need the expertise the CAMH service can offer and signposting others for alternative support.
“We saw a steady rise in referrals over the last three to four years and while the number of referrals dipped in early 2020 they quickly returned to pre-covid levels and there continues to be a very high demand for this service during what is a very difficult time.
“To address the high demand for this service, we have invested in additional resources including new staff, focusing on those children and young people who have been waiting the longest and those with the highest clinical risk and need. We have continued to see children throughout the pandemic and expanded our ‘virtual’ appointments and use of digital technologies for many patients.
“Through the HSCPs, including Renfrewshire, we continue to work with education departments and third sector organisations to support those children who do not need to see the CAMH service.”