Excessive Wait for Young People in Lothian to see Mental Health Professionals

That the Parliament notes with deep concern the length of time that young people are having to wait to see mental health professionals; believes that, in the Lothian area, one-in-four young people under the age of 18 are being forced to wait more than a year for mental health assistance; understands that between April and June 2019, 301 of the 727 patients seen by NHS Lothian’s Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were made to wait longer than four and a half months to be seen; considers that this is the second highest rate in the country, and urges immediate action to improve the mental health treatment of young people.