Mental health crisis leaving young people in limbo - Foysol Choudhury

Many students are struggling with their mental health, says Foysol Choudhury

I’ve been told that students in our city not only face challenges in accessing mental health services but are also grappling with poor housing conditions, homelessness and cost of living pressures, creating a broader crisis affecting well-being.

I’ve also heard stories of some students being told by their GP that they exhibit severe signs of depression, but instead of being offered an appointment they are provided with a list of apps or helplines.

Self-managing symptoms is not always enough to meet severe needs and many find it difficult to access these resources, particularly when already overwhelmed. This cannot replace tailored support, especially for those struggling with serious mental health conditions.

The situation is further complicated by long waiting lists for appointments, often so long that people are left without proper support for extended periods. The system, as it currently stands, leaves people in limbo, struggling without access to the specialist help they desperately need.

Our NHS staff are working incredibly hard and are suffering the consequences of an overworked and under-resourced mental health workforce. Staff shortages and burnout are common, and the pressure on professionals to handle large caseloads puts even more strain on NHS staff.

Scotland must take urgent action to reform mental health services and I’m working to support changes at parliament. I’ll continue pushing for solutions to increase the number of mental health professionals, such as by providing access to a mental health professional in every GP surgery and ensuring specialist mental health provision within emergency departments.

Every young person should be able to access specialist mental health services at school and we must improve the referral process for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), so that young people aren’t turned away or left waiting for treatment.

Only by ensuring our NHS is fit for the future in this way, by providing mental health support in both primary care and community settings, can we tackle the mental health crisis and support the next generation. By continuing to advocate for these issues, I am working to ensure that the most vulnerable in our city and wider region are heard and that meaningful action is taken to improve the system for everyone.

Foysol Choudhury is a Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian region (Research and support for this article by Joud Almanie)