Children First statement on quarterly CAMHS waiting list figures

Responding to the latest Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) quarterly waiting list figures, Children First chief executive Mary Glasgow said: “Today’s figures show thousands of children are still in desperate need of support. It’s a decade since the Scottish Government committed to 90 percent of CAMHS referrals being seen within 18 weeks. This target has still not been met. 

“Our teams across Scotland are supporting young people who are frightened, worried, anxious and need help now. The fact remains that children are often not getting support until they are in severe distress. This must stop.  

“Ahead of tomorrow’s budget, the Scottish Government must invest more in early help and support to prevent children reaching crisis point. We want to see more funding so that families can quickly get support for their children when they need it.” 

Figures: https://www.gov.scot/news/continued-improvement-in-child-mental-health-waiting-times/