Improving mental health services for children is a deeply important issue, and I would like to commend both Childline and the NSPCC for the vital work they have done in this area. All young people should be able to access the help they need, when they need it, irrespective of how well-off their families are.
In Scotland, healthcare is a devolved issue, and so it is for the Scottish Government in Holyrood to preside over the provision of children’s mental health services here. Unfortunately, recent data shows that the majority of Scotland’s fourteen NHS boards are failing to meet the waiting time target of 18 weeks. Despite this, only four boards have said they are increasing children’s mental health funding by substantially more than last year.
The UK Government, which is responsible for children’s mental health services in England, is taking the issue seriously. An additional £1.4 billion is being invested to transform children’s mental health services between 2015 and 2020; and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Green Paper sets out ambitious proposals for improving services, alongside another £300 million in funding.
I hope that the Scottish Government will follow the UK Government’s lead, recognises the importance of this issue, and commits to drastic improvements in children’s mental health services in Scotland in the near future, both within the NHS and in Scotland’s schools, which are also a devolved matter.