by Bill Heaney
Anas Sarwar has accused the SNP of “betraying a generation of Scots” as new figures show more than 80,000 mental health referrals for children and adolescents were rejected over the last 10 years.
New analysis by Scottish Labour has revealed that between 2016 and 2025, a staggering 83,420 referrals were rejected – around one in every four.
On average, nearly 23 young people per day were turned away from CAMHS.
The SNP pledged action on rejected CAMHS referrals nearly a decade ago, but in 2025, the issue reached a crisis point with children being turned away at unprecedented rates.
The Scottish Labour leader, left, accused the SNP government of “turning its back on vulnerable young people” in response to the damning figures.
To improve mental health support for children and young people, Scottish Labour has pledged to deliver:
A new national neurodevelopmental pathway so that neurodivergent people can get the support they need instead of being lost in the system.
- A new system of support for children and young people, immediately upon referral to CAMHS, so kids don’t have to wait for the help they need.
- A dedicated Community Link Worker service in all CAMHS teams, to create wraparound support for young people on lists.
The party is also improving mental health care for adults by expanding mental health support for those with mild to moderate conditions in primary care settings, improving access to self-referral pathways, and providing better support for neurodivergent people.
Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “John Swinney and the SNP should be ashamed of their failure to provide mental health support for struggling children and young people.
“More than 80,000 children and adolescents have been turned away in their hour of need in the last 10 years on the SNP’s watch, while others have failed painfully long waits.
“From the chaos in our schools to the pressure on CAMHS, the SNP is betraying a generation of Scots and letting vulnerable people fall through the cracks.
“This is not as good as it gets – a Scottish Labour government will fix the SNP’s mess and deliver the mental health support kids need.
“We will expand mental health support in primary care and schools, make sure kids are getting help as soon as they are referred to CAMHS, and ensure autistic and ADHD children can get specialist support.
“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour to end SNP failure and deliver a better future for young people across Scotland.”