By Aimee Duffy

The charity Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) has opened a mental health hub called The Nook, designed to slash waiting times for mental health treatment for young people. The hub officially opened last month and offers free walk in support, for those in need, with no referrals required.

Shona Littlejohn, Chairwoman of SAMH, said: “For far too long, people have been sitting on waiting lists, alone, and unable to access the help they need. This is for them and the tens of thousands of others across Scotland in need of help.”

Hubs are set to be opened in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverclyde and Lanarkshire over the next two to three years in Scotland. The charity is appealing for donations to be able to successfully open hubs around Scotland to reach as many people as possible. This means immediate support is easily accessible for those that are struggling with their mental health.

SAMH chief executive Billy Watson said: “There will be no waiting list, there will be no rejection and no stigma – we’re cutting through the red tape to make it as easy as possible for people to get the help they need.”

It is evident that there is still a mental health crisis in Scotland for young people as the wait times continue to soar, leaving teenagers feeling hopeless. NHS health boards have found patients in the NHS highlands waited up to 1,189 days for appointments with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Patients at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, the borders and Greater Glasgow and Clyde have waited more than a year to get an appointment with the service.

Research conducted by the University of Glasgow found that there has been a rise in the number of depression and anxiety cases in recent years within young people in the UK. The research highlighted that the biggest increase in mental health issues was found among young women under the age of 25.

While the crisis in Scotland is affecting young people’s quality of life, it is also influencing their education. A report by Mind, the mental health charity, found that nearly half of young people say that their mental health is affecting their attendance and work in education. Research shows that 48% of 18-year-olds have been struggling with their mental health since lockdown, alongside 45% of 22-year-olds struggling with the same issues.

Although there are many more young people speaking out about their mental health they are still being met with little support and wait months to speak to a specialist. This means that many teenagers are left to cope with their issues by themselves which can cause their conditions to worsen.

Data found through Freedom of Information (FOI) shows that there were some young people in 2024 waiting almost six years for treatment from NHS Scotland for their mental health. In 2025 the numbers have dropped to young people waiting three and a half years or longer. Although there appears to be a decrease in the waiting time this year, which is a big step in the right direction, the demand for support remains very high among young people.

Scotland has the chance to transform its mental health system by putting time and investments into the NHS to help those in need. The younger generation’s mental health can’t be put on hold any longer – the time for change is now.

New Mental Health Hub Opens as Young Scots Face Long Waiting Times