YOUNG people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Forth Valley are waiting longer than anywhere else in Scotland to start treatment.

The average wait for people in the region is 24 weeks – more than five months.

Forth Valley NHS also failed to meet the Scottish Government’s target of seeing 90 per cent of patients within 18 weeks as only 28 per cent of people began treatment in this time.

CAMHS provides help for children and young people with a wide range of mental health problems including easting disorders, ADHD, anxiety and depression. Half of all lifetime mental health problems begin before the age of 14 and 75 per cent by the age of 21.

YoungMinds, a charity which specialises in helping young people with mental ill health, believe that early intervention is key. Nick Harrop, media and campaigns manager, said: “Long waiting times can have a devastating effect on vulnerable children and their families.

“Without treatment, children are more likely to self-harm or become suicidal, to be violent and aggressive, or to drop out of school, which can ruin their prospects for the future. Delays can also have a disastrous effect on families, with parents forced to leave their jobs to look after their children.

“In order for this situation to change, there needs to be a sustained commitment to investing in high-quality, accessible CAMHS provision and an appreciation that early intervention is vital for children and families.”

See Me works to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health. A spokesman for the charity said: “To help young people recover from mental health conditions, they need care and support quickly. At the moment, it can be difficult for young people to get the help they need.

“It is not fair for young people to wait for months to get the help they need and all health boards need to meet waiting time targets.”

An NHS Forth Valley spokesman said: “Ensuring children and young people have access to mental health services is a key priority. We have experienced challenges and to help address this we have redesigned local services and recruited a number of additional staff to help increase capacity.

“These changes are already making a positive impact and we expect to see further improvements. While we take this important work forward, we continue to prioritise urgent referrals and ensure that we see children and young people who have been waiting the longest period of time.”