New data from Public Health Scotland shows that referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are being rejected at a record rate, with 1,274 referrals turned away in March alone and 37% of all referrals rejected between January and March this year.
The figures reveal a system under significant strain. While waiting times for those accepted into CAMHS have improved, doctors and charities are warning that growing numbers of young people are being left without the alternative support they need, often after already taking the difficult step of asking for help.
One young woman, rejected from CAMHS at 14 due to insufficient evidence, described the experience as humiliating after opening up to teachers and professionals only to be told it was not enough.
It is a sobering reminder of why early, accessible mental health education matters so much. Brain Smart® exists to reach young people long before a crisis point, giving them tools to understand their own minds rather than waiting for a system that, in too many cases, cannot say yes.