One of the most important parts of effective mental health treatment is prompt delivery. Nevertheless, many people in Scotland experience delays that exacerbate their situation.
Statistics
Statistics regarding delays for adults in Scotland in the 2024-25 period are broken down by area. In NHS Dumfries and Galloway, the number of people experiencing in excess of a year before their first appointment was 33, with one who had waited for more than three years. In NHS Forth Valley, 35 patients saw wait times that passed 12 months, with 215 patients who had waited two years or more.
Other excessive wait times include 146 weeks for one patient in NHS Fife and 1269 days in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The record appeared to be NHS Highland’s, at 2736 days, or over seven years. For CAMHS, the childhood and adolescent service, wait times have reduced, but there are a greater number of waiting patients.
Response
These criticisms primarily come from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, following a freedom of information request. They accuse the Scottish Government of failing to adequately resource mental health care. They also promise to increase funding, recruitment and training. This could lead to something like the mental health training courses Plymouth, available at tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/plymouth/.
In response, the SNP highlighted the 74,000 people who had begun therapy during the time period, with a 7.5% rise in patients accessing treatment within three weeks of referral. They also cited a 61.8% rise in staffing levels.
Only by improving wait times for mental health care can Scotland ensure that people receive the treatment they need.