Scotland's young people cannot wait any longer for mental health support

Record View says NHS bosses and politicians need to recognise the extent of the problem.

Any parent with a child waiting for mental health support must be going through hell.

So figures today showing that some kids are having to wait for more than 1000 days for mental health appointments are heartbreaking.

This is not a problem isolated to one area. Seven different health boards, in both rural and urban areas, had waits of over a year, according to the figures.

There’s no doubt that the NHS across Scotland is struggling with a flood of demand for child mental health services.

The same situation is being seen in other parts of the UK and has been linked to several factors, such as the impact of Covid lockdown and the pressures of the online world.

It is hard to come forward and ask for help and there is still some stigma attached to admitting you are struggling.

So it is a kick in the teeth for young people who have already overcome this hurdle to then have to wait years for treatment.

As with many problems facing our NHS, more money and increased staff numbers would certainly help tackle the problem of lengthy waiting times.

But health board bosses and politicians need to recognise the extent of the problem and start treating the child mental health crisis with more urgency.

The SNP should consider employing more counsellors in schools and installing more specialists in GP surgeries and A&E departments to help bring down waiting times.

The Lib Dems’ idea of making social media giants pay for it through a tax on their monster profits should also be given consideration.

What we cannot have is more delays. Our young people can’t wait any longer.

Get a grip on bills

One of Labour’s flagship election commitments was to cut energy bills by £300.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused havoc in the global markets and Labour promised reform.

Top of the list was a plan for a clean power revolution and the creation of a publicly-owned energy company.

But bills have increased since Keir Starmer came to power and customers are braced for another rise in October.

Pensioners and low-income families will likely face a winter of either heating or eating, and this is unacceptable.

Labour rightly flags up the boost to mortgage holders after cuts to interest rates. But inflation is creeping up and folk are still paying over the odds for energy.

The cost-of-living crisis will determine the next general election and the Labour Government must make more progress.