Scotland is in the grip of a mental health epidemic among our young people. New figures reveal a shocking 160,000 have been referred to specialist NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services since 2018.
The number was 34,000 last year – the highest since 2018. But young people are being denied vital help due to a combination of factors.
The near 200 vacancies in the sector means staff shortages are inevitably hitting services. This is having a knock-on effect on waiting times, which have soared in some parts of Scotland.
