Improvements to mental services and support for children and young people across Forth Valley were praised by Maree Todd, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, during a recent visit to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Stirling Health and Care Village.

Waiting times had previously been very long with many children waiting far longer than the national target of 18 weeks. However, following significant investment and new ways of working, the team has cut waiting times significantly and now has some of the lowest waiting times in Scotland.  This has included the introduction of a Choice and Partnership (CAPA) approach aimed at increasing the range of treatment options available, maximising capacity and improving the management and monitoring of demand and capacity.

NHS Forth Valley  first met the national CAMHS target of ensuring that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of being referred in February 2024 and has maintained and improved on this position over the last 16 months.

The most recent data for the first quarter of 2025 show that 99.1% of those starting treatment in the last three months were seen within 18 weeks or less.

During the visit to the CAMHS outpatient clinics taking place at Stirling Health and Care Village on 3 June 2025, Maree Todd was welcomed by NHS Forth Valley’s Vice-Chair, Allan Rennie and Helena Marshall, Head of Service for CAMHS. She also had the opportunity to meet with families being supported by the service and hear directly from local CAMHS staff.

During the visit, Ms Todd said: “We want all children and young people to be able to access appropriate mental health treatment as and when they need to, and this continued progress on waiting times is testament to the hard-working staff who care for those referred to these services.

The turnaround in CAMHS provision has been linked to a “radical new approach” made in Forth Valley – including the introduction of a Choice and Partnership (CAPA) approach aimed at increasing the range of treatment options available, maximising capacity and improving the management and monitoring of demand and capacity.

Lesley Dunabie, Department Manager and Head of Nursing for NHS Forth Valley CAMHS, said: “We are delighted that the changes introduced by local staff over the last 18 months have made such a positive impact to our waiting times and significantly improved the services and support available for children and young people with serious mental illness.

“We are committed to building on this by continuing to develop and improve local services for children and young people and working with a wide range of partners to help increase access to support in local schools and communities at an earlier stage.”

Pictured: The Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd (fourth from right) was welcomed by Vice-Chair Allan Rennie (second from left) and Helena Marshall, Head of Service for CAMHS (third from left) and met with families being supported by the CAMHS service as well as local CAMHS staff.