Children and young people to receive extra mental health funding

New funding of £15m to help children and young people with mental health issues is being made available throughout Scotland.

The funding will have a particular focus on issues brought about by the pandemic, with £11.25m for services including support for children who are struggling emotionally due to returning to school under new restrictions.

The remaining £3.75m will be the first instalment of an annual £15m fund to provide new and enhanced community mental health and wellbeing services. These new services will have a focus on prevention, early intervention and the treatment of distress.

The money will be distributed to local authorities to support a local response for five to 24-year-olds, their families and carers.

Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey said: “The pandemic has been very hard for everyone, but for many children and young people it has been particularly difficult.

“Families have told us they need more support for mental and emotional distress and for their wellbeing and resilience, delivered in a community setting. By providing funding to tackle the impacts of the pandemic, alongside a separate fund to provide long term mental health and wellbeing support, we aim to deliver help where it is needed.

“This funding is in addition to supporting the recruitment of an additional 80 mental health professionals to work with children and young people, and our recent announcement of a further £3.6 million to help provide more than 80 additional counsellors in every college and university in Scotland over the next four years. We are also ensuring that every secondary school will have access to a counsellor.”

COSLA spokesperson for children and young people Councillor Stephen McCabe added: “The wellbeing of our children and young people is of utmost importance to local authorities and has been a particular priority in recent months due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This funding will allow local authorities to continue their work to support  young people’s mental health and wellbeing needs arising as a result of the pandemic, and to implement new and enhanced services, providing early support for children and young people experiencing wellbeing issues, and their families.

“These actions will help ensure the best outcomes for our children and young people in the short and longer term.”