Supporting Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

That the Parliament notes the research suggesting that 20% of children and young people have a mental health problem in any given year and about 10% at any one time; considers that, without proper support and treatment, the impact on these people can be devastating, affecting education, home life and relationships; further considers that Scotland's health professionals do fantastic work to help people who have mental ill-health, but believes that a lack of resources in the face of dramatically increasing demand means that medical staff are often asked to work under very strenuous circumstances; understands that half of Scotland’s NHS boards are failing to meet targets put in place by the Scottish Government in December 2014 for children and young people to access mental health services on time; considers that there is a lack of inpatient beds, with 42 in all of Scotland, meaning that increasing numbers of people are being treated in unsuitable wards, which means that many are not getting the support that they require, and congratulates the campaign by the Scottish Children's Services Coalition to urge the Scottish Government to use the £25 million in additional health funding coming to Scotland over the next five years from the UK Budget as a result of increased spending on mental health services for mental health services for children and young people.