Three children in every classroom will have experienced a mental health problem by the time they鈥檙e 16, and thousands will struggle to get the help they need.
It鈥檚 got to change, and that鈥檚 what SAMH鈥檚 new campaign is all about. Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland鈥檚 national mental health charity. We work in communities across Scotland, and this week we launched our biggest ever campaign, 鈥楪oing To Be鈥�.
The campaign will run for two years, but in its opening weeks, we鈥檙e drawing attention to the thousands of young people who are being turned away from getting help for their mental health. And we鈥檙e calling for schools-based counselling as one route to getting help.
Nearly 7,000 young people were turned away from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in Scotland last year. We don鈥檛 know why, what happened to them, and what other services were offered, if any. The Scottish Government has committed to an audit of these 鈥渞ejected referrals鈥�, and we want to see this start quickly, report within 18 months and lead to firm action.
Mental health support for children and young people needs review, refocus and investment in early intervention services to help young people at the earliest opportunity. There鈥檚 much to do. But one action we want to see urgently is the introduction of counselling in Scotland鈥檚 secondary schools by 2020.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland all have strategies on counselling in secondary school. An evaluation of schools-based counselling in Wales showed that counselling was associated with significant reductions in psychological distress across each of the areas in which it was introduced. Why are Scotland鈥檚 children and young people missing out? Counselling is an important part of a whole school approach to mental health, and we must provide this service: soon.
Young people deserve better. With our new campaign, we hope the future is Going To Be brighter.
Visit the to find out more, watch our films and join the campaign.
Carolyn Lochhead, Public Affairs Manager, SAMH