The mother of a teenage girl who was viciously assaulted on a school bus has joined others in issuing urgent pleas for mental health support for children.
Kaylynn, the 13-year-old daughter of Vicky Donald, was harrowed by a group of tormentors during her ride home from lessons at Bell Baxter High School in Ladybank, Fife, on October 25. Despite the traumatic experience leaving Kaylynn feeling suicidal, she and her family have been informed that the wait for support could range between six to 12 months.
This news comes in the wake of recent statistics revealing that over 5,300 Scottish children and adolescents are on the waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), with 147 of these individuals having waited beyond a year. This far exceeds the 18-week target waiting time promised by the Scottish Government.
Vicky, a 36-year-old concerned mother, expressed her apprehension regarding the extensive waiting period: “Each day is filled with worry and uncertainty, as we fear that our efforts as a family won’t suffice in preventing Kaylynn from self-harm while awaiting professional support. Despite reaching out to the GP, waiting on the CAMHS assessment, and seeking all the help we can, we, as parents are feeling helpless. The duration of the wait only seems to worsen Kaylynn’s mental health condition.”
Vicky’s plea coincides with the Scottish Child Services Coalition’s (SCSC) call for the Scottish Government to immediately allocate a dedicated mental health budget for at-risk youth by December 19. The SCSC, an alliance of care and education service providers, has observed an escalating struggle amongst the youth due to the ramifications of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis, which have led to an uptick in violent episodes among children across Glasgow and Scotland at large.
In a bid to prevent a potential “lost generation,” the SCSC urges prioritizing mental health expenditure. In response to a series of rampant attacks on children, a campaign titled “Our Kids … Our Future” was launched by the Record in February demanding more support for the children impacted by this violence wave within their communities.
According to the SCSC, the figures indicating the wait time are “alarming”. A spokesperson stated: “This is a mental health emergency. Many children and young people are at their breaking point, struggling with the aftermath of lockdown and the surging cost of living. This adversity is influencing young people’s behaviour, amplifying the level of youth violence occurring nationwide.”
They further emphasized: “The recent data showcasing the wait time for treatment are deeply troubling. We insist that the Scottish Government urgently step up and prioritize our children’s mental health services in the upcoming budget.”
Vicky, a mother of four who has ardently supported the campaign against youth violence, is adamant that this issue won’t be resolved unless the Government expands support for children. She said: “Children are increasingly exposed to violence in today’s world. They need assistance to process the detrimental impact of witnessing their peers as victims and perpetrators of violence. Failing to provide children with immediate help will only skew our future generations.”
In a similar vein, the mother of an autistic teen who was mercilessly beaten at a skateboard park shared her experiences of having to seek private mental health care for her child due to extended waiting lists.
Abbie Jarvis, a 14-year-old girl, was knocked unconscious at a skateboard park in Drumchapel, Glasgow, back in October 2022. Unfortunately, she had to wait for 11 months before a therapist was available to assist her in dealing with her traumatic experience through CAMHS.
Her mother, Angela, stated, “I was losing sleep worrying about her and had to seek help elsewhere. By the time CAMHS had a suitable therapist available, it was too late. Abbie needed immediate help, else her condition would have worsened.”
Angela added, “It’s a terrifying and draining ordeal for a parent when their child is dealing with depression and they’re left clueless about how to help.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde expressed their apologies to anyone having to wait longer for treatment in a statement. They assured that more than 90% of young patients have been seen within the 18 weeks of referral since June 2023, despite an unprecedented number of CAMHS referrals.
Jo Anderson, Director of Influence and Change at Scottish Action for Mental Health, highlighted the urgency of the situation, saying, “Kaylynn’s story underscores the pressing issue of protractedly long waiting periods for children and young people requiring mental health support. The upcoming Scottish Budget must emphasize mental health funding.”
The Scottish government’s Mental Wellbeing Minister, Maree Todd, while acknowledging that significant strides have been made in improving CAMHS waiting times, admitted that there’s still much work that needs to be done. The Minister concluded by saying, “Long waits for treatment are not acceptable. We are committed to meeting the standard that 90% of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral. Substantial investments in CAMHS have been made to improve the quality and delivery of mental health services to make certain that all children and young people receive the right support at the right time.”
In response to Kaylynn’s wait period, a spokesperson for Fife Health and Social Care Partnership stated that they do not comment on individual cases due to confidentiality. However, they urged parents or guardians to report any noticeable changes or worsening of a child’s mental state to their referrer as soon as possible.
