A student – who waited months for mental health support – says the long delay prolonged her suffering as new figures revealed the stress on the service. Abbie Bonnyman, 20, told the Stirling Observer that waiting for psychological treatment led to her self-harming when she was diagnosed with anorexia as a teenager.
She spoke out as new research published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists revealed that there is only one consultant psychiatrist for every 10,250 people in Scotland - and the situation is even more fraught for those aged 18 and younger.
For young people and children, there is only CAMHS consultant psychiatrist for every 16,351 people. The picture is one that is reflected in Forth Valley, where CAMHS waiting times have been amongst the longest in Scotland in recent years.
