Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Long wait for youths with mental health issues
Almost 70 per cent of Lanarkshire youngsters struggling with their mental health are waiting more than 18 weeks to begin treatment.
And almost one third of those who were referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were rejected.
These staggering statistics were described by one Lanarkshire MSP as a “catastrophic failure” on the part of the Scottish Government.
Labour list MSP Mark Griffin told the Advertiser: “Young people have been hit hard by the pandemic and, as a result, we know that many young people are dealing with mental health issues.
“Despite this, the SNP Government has failed to properly re-mobilise CAMHS services.
“This is especially evident in Lanarkshire, with almost one in three CAMHS referrals being rejected and a staggering 68 per cent of patients waiting longer than the target time to begin treatment.
“This has to end – the Minister for Mental Wellbeing must take action now to sort this situation out and ensure that our young people get access to the support they need, as quickly as possible.”
CAMHS statistics published earlier this month revealed that across Scotland, 10,452 children and young people were waiting on treatment at the end of December 2021, including 1887 in Lanarkshire.
Nationally, 23 per cent of CAHMS referrals were rejected in the quarter ending December 2021, however in NHS Lanarkshire 32.6 per cent were rejected.
This is despite calls nearly four years ago for the practise of rejecting CAHMS referrals to be ended.
The Scottish Government said it had invested £4.25 million this year to help health board tackle backlogs and pointed to record activity levels in the last quarter.
Minister for Mental Health Kevin Stewart said: “This has been made possible by the
hard work of NHS staff and sustained growth in the CAMHS workforce.
“Under this government (since 2007) CAMHS staffing has increased by 83.4 per cent (+500.1 Whole Time Equivalent) and we continue to create posts.
“Long waits for treatment are unacceptable and we remain committed to meet the standard that 90 per cent of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral.”