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More than 35,000 young Scots needed mental health treatment last year as campaigners today urge the government to “get a grip of this crisis”.

A Record investigation has found that 36,362 children and teenagers sought emotional and psychological help from the country’s 14 health boards last year.

This figure has increased by almost 9,000 since 2013, when 27,600 young people were referred - a rise of 31.7%.

The number referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by NHS Orkney trebled over the same period.

And in the NHS Lothian area the amount of young people undergoing treatment is almost double what it was 10 years ago.

(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The figures yesterday sparked furious demands for urgent action from the SNP government to tackle the crisis.

Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Monica Lennon MSP, said: “Far too many young people are still being failed, and it’s just not good enough. The Health Secretary must get to grips with this crisis and ensure our young people get help when they need it.”

The statistics, released under the Freedom of Information Act, come just weeks after it emerged that there had been a dramatic rise in the amount of young people on waiting lists for treatment in Scotland in the last 12 months.

By the end of June, 584 young Scots were waiting for specialist care, up from 156 in June 2018 – a rise of 274%.

These figures, coupled with the shocking revelation earlier this year that suicide rates among Scots teenagers have almost doubled in eight years, were yesterday branded “a disgrace” and “heartbreaking” by those campaigning for change.

(Image: Daily Record)

The Children & Young People’s Mental Health Task Force published recommendations earlier this year calling for ‘transformational change’ to mental health services for young people.

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition has previously described supporting an increasing number of people identified with mental health problems is one of the “greatest public health challenges of our time” and said the CAHMS service was “already overburdened”.

Politicians yesterday called on Scottish Government Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to make child mental health a priority.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, said: “The rise in the number of children and young people seeking mental health support is heart-breaking, but the fact they are coming forward is good news.

“Staff are working around the clock but they aren’t getting anywhere near the back up and resources they need. The Health Secretary needs to remedy that urgently.”

(Image: Daily Record)

Annie Wells, Scottish Conservative mental health spokesperson, said: “It’s hugely concerning to see so many youngsters needing to be referred for mental health treatment.

“It highlights how important it is that we tackle this issue and provide young people with the support they need. But instead under the SNP waiting times for treatment are only getting longer.

“It’s a disgrace, and they need to start taking meaningful action to address it before more youngsters are affected.”

NHS guidelines say specialist CAMHS services are available to children and young people who have severe, complex and enduring emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties.

They include access to experts like psychologists, mental health nurses and social workers.

NHS Lothian’s figure almost doubled in a decade, recording 4387 referrals last year compared to 2260 in 2009.

NHS Orkney saw its number almost treble in five years, referring 28 young people in 2013 but 80 last year.

As well as the NHS, rocketing numbers of young people are now relying on charities for support.

Laura Sharpe, Education and Young People Manager for Scotland’s See Me charity, said failures to properly address stigma around mental health could be contributing to the rise.

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She said: “A lack of open conversations on mental health means that young people don’t feel able to speak about how they’re feelings. This in turn can make problems worse and result in young people needing professional help.

“Additionally many adults are unsure of how to start a conversation and for some, mental health means mental illness and the assumption that you need to be a specialist to respond. In fact in many cases the young people don’t need support from a mental health service, they need a good adult they can trust.

“All of this combined with pressures at school, increasing pressures on social media and the impact of austerity, are having a negative impact on many young people and could have contributed to this rise.

“We want to see this change and it needs to start in schools so children and young people are having open conversations on this from an early age, so mental health is seen as something we all have, and not just talked about when someone is struggling.

“We all have the power to listen and help someone to get the support they need. To help young people recover from mental health conditions they need care and support quickly.”

But a Scottish Government spokesman said the figures were evidence that stigma was being broken down.

He said: “It’s to be welcomed that the stigma around mental health is being broken down and that people are coming forward to get the help they need.

“We have clearly demonstrated our commitment to support the mental wellbeing of children and young people including our £250 million investment to support positive mental health for children and young people.

“We’re also taking further measures to strengthen the support available in communities and schools. This includes mental health first-aid training for local authorities by the end of the 2019-20 academic year, and the rollout of 350 additional counsellors across Scotland’s secondary schools this academic year.”

Dad of young suicide victim is fighting for better support

The dad of a 13-year-old girl who took her own life after struggling with mental health problems is to take on a gruelling challenge to help other young people get the support they need.

Kenny Moriarty lost his daughter Jenna to suicide in June 2013 after she battled with depression and anxiety.

(Image: Collect)

Following her death, the family, from Kilmarnock, raised tens of thousands of pound for mental health charities and in 2018 Jenna’s brother, Grant, and sister, Jill, set up the Jenna Moriarty Foundation in her memory.

The charity funds counselling and mental health treatments for children and young people in need, many of whom don’t have the option of expensive private treatments or the time to wait months for treatment.

To help more children, dad Kenny is to take on the near 100-mile West Highland Way next month in just three days - half the average time needed to compete the walk.

Kenny, 51, said: “In six years of fundraising I’ve cycled, I’ve climbed, I’ve ran and I’ve told Jenna’s story in the hope of making a change. This year is a step up.

“This is a route that takes most people five to six days and we’re looking to cut that in half.

“The training has been tough both physically and mentally but the support we have had from friends and family has kept us going.

“With some luck we’ll raise the money needed to get as many kids as possible the help they are desperate for.”

(Image: Collect)

Jenna’s sister Jill praised Kenny for his dedication to helping others.

She said: “He continuously raises the bar and challenges us to think bigger and do more to raise funds to look after these kids who are crying out for help.”