Child mental health funding doubles but thousands still waiting for treatment

Spending on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Scotland has risen 118% since 2014, increasing from £67 million in 2014–15 to £146.5 million last year. However, thousands of children still wait for care as demand grows. Official figures show 4,791 children and young people on the CAMHS waiting list as of March, with nearly 10,000 referrals made in just three months. Charities warn the Scottish Government’s aim to allocate 1% of frontline NHS spending to CAMHS by the end of the previous parliamentary term is “impossible” to meet. In the quarter ending March 2026, 9,807 young people were referred, up from 8,895 a year earlier. Waiting increased 2.5%, from 4,674 at end-March 2025 to 4,791.