Mental health

First Minister

IT has been a very turbulent few weeks in Scottish politics. From the moment that the Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross lodged our vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf, it was clear that his time as First Minister was up.

The outgoing First Minister has completely failed in his job to deliver on the real priorities of Scotland. From the misguided Gender Recognition Reform Bill to the disastrous Deposit Return Scheme, Humza Yousaf has consistently let the people of Scotland down.

Almost 24 years ago, John Swinney was elected as SNP leader. History is set to repeat itself as the same member will most likely become the next First Minister after an uncontested leadership election.

With Scotland needing a fresh start, John Swinney represents the ultimate continuity candidate bringing the same old ideas to the table.

I urge the incoming First Minister to put aside the SNP’s obsession with independence and focus on Scotland’s real priorities, such as supporting our NHS, growing our economy, and rebuilding our public services.

NEXT week marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, which aims to tackle stigma and help people understand and prioritise their own and others’ mental health.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act, and is important at every stage of life for everybody across the country.

The Scottish Government has a target that 90 per cent of young people who are referred to the NHS for mental health related issues are seen within 18 weeks.

However, only two in five young people from the Borders are seen within this 18week timeframe, with only three in five starting treatment 36 weeks after referral.

The waiting times for mental health support in the Borders are unacceptable, that is why I am calling on the new First Minister to prioritise mental health services to ensure that people can get access to quick and effective support.