Mental health

It is alarming to see such a dramatic increase in the number of young people under 21 years of age being prescribed antidepressants in Scotland (Your report, 26 July). Diagnosis of a mental health problem should not be the only mechanism to trigger support, but it is often only then when interventions take place.

A renewed focus on early intervention and preventative measures is required urgently if we are to nip potential problems in the bud and make a positive impact on the selfesteem, resilience, emotional and mental well-being of our young people.

We welcome the fact that the Scottish Government is taking this matter seriously with the appointment of a new mental health minister, but there is no denying the scale of the problem around children and young people’s mental health. For too long we have focused on treating the symptoms rather than the contributing factors of poor mental health.

We must ensure that we provide well-resourced services, such as talking therapies, to tackle issues such as depression before resorting to the prescription pad.

Faced with an increasing demand in the number of those seeking help, our child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are overstretched. At a time when many local authority funded services which provide therapeutic community support are facing cutbacks, this means even greater pressure is placed on CAMHS, which will only be able to take on the most severe cases and many more young people in need of help will lose out.

We require a clear mental health strategy focused on prevention and early intervention if we are to help stem the spiralling numbers of young people facing issues with their mental health. THE SCOTTISH CHILDREN’S

SERVICES COALITION Tom Mcghee, managing director, Spark of Genius; Duncan Dunlop,

chief executive, Who Cares? Scotland; Sophie Pilgrim, director, Kindred Scotland; Stuart Jacob, director, Falkland House School; Christine Carlin, chief executive, Mindroom; Niall Kelly, managing

director, Young Foundations; Liz May, national co-ordinator, Action for Sick Children Scotland