A new report has revealed limited progress and transparency in improving mental health support for young people in Scotland—six years after over 100 recommendations were made by the Youth Commission on Mental Health Services (YCMHS).
The research, commissioned by SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS), and Young Scot, assessed a focused set of recommendations from the 2019 Youth Commission report. It found little evidence of meaningful change, with a significant lack of publicly available information making it difficult to track progress.
Where data was available, the findings showed:
- Inconsistent access to services depending on location
- High demand for counselling services outstripping current provision
- A key commitment—allocating at least 1% of NHS funding to young people’s mental health—has not been met
- Transparency around funding remains a major concern
Commenting on the research Helen Forrest, our Chief Executive said:
This research reinforces what we hear every day from children, young people and families. Mental health support must be accessible, rights-based, and shaped by those with lived experience. At Children’s Health Scotland, we believe that a trauma-informed, child-led approach is essential to ensuring every child gets the care and support they need—not just promises, but real, visible change.
Voices from the Sector
Billy Watson, Chief Executive of SAMH, said:
The lack of progress made since the Youth Commission published its recommendations in 2019 is very disappointing, and the fact there is so little transparency is a real concern. We know from our engagement with young people through our work in schools, outreach programmes, and our Young People’s Panel that much more needs to be done.
Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, added:
Children have a right to good quality mental health care and preventative support, but too often this is falling short in Scotland. Six years on, it is unacceptable that young people are unable to see or feel the impact of the changes that have been promised.
Cameron Gunn, a member of SAMH’s Young People’s Panel, said:
Young people want their voices heard and are eager to work with the Scottish Government. However, this enthusiasm is hard to sustain when it’s difficult to see what’s actually changed.
The original Youth Commission involved young people aged 15 to 25 and was funded by the Scottish Government. It aimed to gather lived experience and develop recommendations to improve mental health services for children and young people. The final report was published in March 2019.
