Mental health treatment target met for young but more than 100 waiting a year

The Scottish Government has hit its children’s mental health waiting times target consistently in 2025, but more than 100 patients are still waiting after a year, figures show.

Statistics published on Tuesday show more than 90% of patients referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were seen within 18 weeks, with 91.5% seen within that time between July and September.

The Scottish Government aims for 90% of referrals to be seen with 18 weeks and the target has been hit for every quarter since October to December last year, but year-long waits have increased in the past year.

According to the most recent figures, 3.2% of patients were waiting more than 53 weeks – around 128 of the total of 4,006 patients – down from 3.3% the previous quarter but up from 2.7% in the same quarter last year.

Waits of between 36 and 52 weeks have increased from 6.2% to 6.9% in the most recent quarters – accounting for 276 young people still waiting for treatment – but are down from 6.8% in the same time last year.

Mental wellbeing minister Tom Arthur welcomed the “continued progress” in hitting the target, but said pressure may see performance in the system “vary” over the coming months.

“This achievement is down to the dedication of our CAMHS staff, who work tirelessly to support families during some of their most difficult moments,” he said.

“We have invested significantly in strengthening services, increasing CAMHS staffing by more than 50% over the last decade and exceeding our commitment to fund 320 additional posts by 2026.

“Local CAMHS teams are responding quickly, with half of all children and young people beginning treatment within five weeks.

“We are also seeing positive signs, with the overall CAMHS waiting list decreasing by 5.3% in the previous year.

“While we continue working with boards to reduce waiting lists, we recognise that services remain under pressure and that performance may vary in coming months.

“There is still more to do to ensure performance is consistent across the country, and we are supporting all NHS boards to meet the standard and continue delivering improvements.”

In the past year, the CAMHS workforce has also increased by 0.2% to a whole-time equivalent of 1,493.8 in September.

Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman Brian Whittle said: “It’s clear too many vulnerable young people are still falling through the cracks on the SNP’s watch.

“They should stop the spin and admit that they are only hitting targets due to more kids being turned away.

“On the SNP’s watch, over 4,000 children and young people are still desperately waiting for mental health treatment.

“We know the tragic consequences these lengthy delays can have.”

Labour mental health spokesman Paul Sweeney said the figures are “shameful”.

He added: “The SNP’s record on child and adolescent mental health is nothing to be proud of – rejected referrals at a record high, kids with ADHD and autism overlooked, and long waits between first and second appointments erased from the data.

“Vulnerable kids are being let down but the SNP is more interested in spinning the problem than fixing it.”