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Crisis for children's mental health care in Scotland

Posted on 29/08/2017 by

Mental Health Care Scotland Crisis Children 846894

MINISTERS were yesterday accused of failing to tackle a mental health crisis among children as it emerged more than 250,000 youngsters have no access to counsellors in school.GETTY - STOCK IMAGE

Ministers were accused of failing to tackle a mental health crisis among children.

New figures showed that 14 local authorities had no on-site support, while provision was patchy in other council areas.

Charities have warned that youngsters are being left in distress and at serious risk.

Some children with mental health problems are  waiting more than a year for help.

The figures, obtained by the BBC, showed school counsellors dealt with thousands of cases, including substance abuse, self-harm and depression in the past year.

Charities have warned that youngsters are being left in distress and serious risk

There is a growing child mental health crisis in Scotland and a lack of ambition on the part of the Scottish Government to respond, so we share the frustration of charities, parents and teachers

Monica Lennon - Labour’s inequalities spokeswoman

A Scottish Government review into services is under way after Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt told MSPs “a mental health link person is available to every school”.

But Labour’s inequalities spokeswoman, Monica Lennon, said access “should be available to all pupils.

She added: “There is a growing child mental health crisis in Scotland and a lack of ambition on the part of the Scottish Government to respond, so we share the frustration of charities, parents and teachers.”

Scottish Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “From children waiting hundreds of days for treatment to a late and unambitious mental health strategy, the SNP Government has yet to deliver on improving mental health provision.

“We have heard the SNP’s warm words on mental health time after time but their passive approach to mental health is not good enough and is failing future generations.”

Yesterday’s statistics showed on-site services were present in only 40 per cent of secondary schools – or 10 per cent of all primary and secondary schools.

Maureen Watt told MSPs 'a mental health link person is available to every school'

Ms Watt said the government mental health strategy would improve early intervention and provide better access to services.

She added: “Education authorities and all those working in our schools have a responsibility to support and develop the mental wellbeing of pupils, with decisions on how to provide that support taken on the basis of local circumstances and needs.

“Some will provide access to school-based counselling, others will utilise the skills of pastoral care staff and liaise with the Educational Psychological Services and health services for specialist support when required.”

Source: Express