A leading children’s health charity says nobody can be in any doubt that ‘so much more’ needs to be done to support young people struggling with their mental health.

The findings of a report released today from the Scottish Parliament’s petitions committee say levels of support for young people’s mental health paint a ‘troubling picture’.

Children’s Health Scotland’s (CHS) chief executive Helen Forrest says she is “saddened but perhaps not surprised” by the committee’s conclusions.

MSPs found a lack of support early on when young people first started to struggle with their mental health left them feeling ‘cast aside’. Some who gave evidence during the committee’s inquiry said feelings of distress then escalated to self-harm and even attempts at suicide.

“We are saddened but perhaps not surprised at the report published today,” Ms Forrest told healthandcare.scot, “and totally agree that more needs to be done to ensure that children and young people who need help with their mental health can access this support quickly and effectively.”

Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing Services with CHS Dr Laura Smith says insights from the self-management service that her organisation runs for young people and children mean they are “acutely aware” of gaps in provision.

“This view is supported by the health professionals we work with who have told us that there is a lack of services for children and young people who are struggling but do not meet Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services criteria,” she says.

“We support children and young people with long-term health conditions and the vast majority report concerns or struggles with their mental health. Many also say that they do not know how or where to find help or have not been able to access support.

“Parents and carers often get in touch and tell us that their child isn’t coping and they don’t know what to do.”

CHS has just launched a new digital self-management service – SMS:Connect – an expansion of the services it already provides to support children and young people’s mental health.

“But without doubt,” Dr Smith adds, “so much more needs to be done.”

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