Thousands of young people waiting for an appointment

The Scottish Government has been accused of putting its “fingers in its ears” over the country’s young persons’ mental health provision.

The target for patients to get an appointment for help with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within 18 weeks was achieved for 69.7% of young people in the three months from April to June – down from 73.6% in the first three months of 2019.

At the end of June, there were 10,419 children and young people waiting for a CAMHS appointment.

More than 38% of mental health patients in Tayside waited longer than 18 weeks for treatment. The Scottish average is slightly more than 30%.

In Fife, 29% of mental health patients were seen within 18 weeks.

An improvement in psychological therapies waiting times has been made in Tayside, with the latest statistics showing 27.5% of patients waited more than 18 weeks for treatment, down from 38.5% this time last year.

It was higher than the Scottish national average of 21.3%.

Waiting times for psychological therapies treatment in Fife remained at the same level as last year, with 33.8% of patients waiting more than 18 weeks to be seen.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We want to make sure anyone who has identified as needing support can get services that are appropriate to their needs.

“The roll-out of our £250 million package of measures to support positive mental health for children and young people is under way.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says the roll-out of a £250 million package of measures is under way.