Latest ISD figures have shown that 1 in 4 young people, under the age of 18, are having to wait longer than a year for mental health support in NHS Lothian, says Lothians MSP Miles Briggs.

He claims that for the latest month figures are available, 54 young people had to wait over a year to be seen, 24.6% of the 220 young people seen that month.

Scottish Conservatives health spokesperson Miles Briggs has called for SNP Ministers to show leadership and take immediate action over this developing crisis.

Miles Briggs MSP

Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, Miles Briggs, said: “Almost a quarter of children and teenagers under the age of 18 are having to wait over a year to be seen by Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“There is a mental health crisis for young people in the Lothian’s that is only getting worse due to SNP complacency over the issue.

“For a parent to be told that their child has to be wait over a year to be seen by a mental health specialist is extremely distressing and has become the norm
in Lothian.

“As a Lothian MSP I am simply not willing to stand by and watch the CAMHS crisis further descend into an emergency.

“I have therefore again written to Jeane Freeman demanding action over these
unacceptably long waiting times for children and young people’s mental health
services waiting times in Lothian.

“Parents and guardians want urgent action to turn this totally unacceptable situation around and we have simply not seen SNP Ministers showing the leadership needed.”

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