A charity worker has welcomed a new Scottish Government strategy to tackle mental health issues as one in four young people, including children, in Renfrewshire have issues.
The government’s strategy replaces the current Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Every Life Matters which was published in 2018.
Suicide in young people is the leading cause of death globally and Scotland has the highest rate of suicide among those under-25.
According to Renfrewshire’s Community Plan (2017-2027), almost one in five people in Renfrewshire are being prescribed medication for anxiety, depression and psychosis.
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Claire Gallagher, head of operations at Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH), said: “I think we should be looking at the reasons why.
"The government is launching a new strategy for suicide and self-harm because self-harm is a proper indicator of someone’s mental health. This is especially true among young ladies.”
“If you think about what young people have to contend with nowadays, it is awful. When I was younger, we did not have cyberbullying. We did not have a way to look, the internet or Tik Tok. It is just an absolute minefield.”
The plan will continue to fight the negative stigma that is often linked with mental health and strives to provide those going through a difficult time with compassionate and effective support.
According to the community plan, those that are female, young, on low income and living alone, are at a higher risk of suffering ill mental health.
Those under-25 and living in Renfrewshire’s deprived areas are also at higher risk of psychiatric hospitalisation.
The waiting times for those looking to seek help for their mental health can also be a long waiting process.
Claire explained: “If you look at the waiting times for children going to see CAHMS, the waiting list is sometimes four months. Anything can happen within those four months.”
According to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), 25 per cent of all referrals were for children who were thinking about or had already attempted suicide - a third of which were under the age of 12.
Claire added: “Sometimes all a young person needs is for someone to listen to them.”
If you, or someone you know, is suffering from mental health issues, visit: www.samaritans.org/ or https://ramh.org/
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