Imagine waiting over seven years for vital mental health support. That’s the shocking reality revealed in Scotland, where ‘horrific’ delays are leaving countless patients in limbo. What’s truly being done to address this deepening crisis and ensure no one is left behind?
A deeply concerning report has unearthed “horrific” delays in mental health treatment across Scotland, with one patient enduring a staggering seven-year wait before receiving care. These figures, brought to light by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, paint a grim picture of a healthcare system under immense strain, leaving vulnerable individuals without timely support.
The most shocking case reveals a patient in the Highlands who waited an unprecedented 2,736 days, equivalent to over seven years, before finally commencing mental health treatment in 2024-25. This extraordinary delay underscores a profound systemic failure, raising serious questions about the accessibility and responsiveness of vital public health services.
Similar, albeit slightly shorter, waits have been documented in other regions, compounding concerns. In NHS Dumfries and Galloway, a patient faced a 1,265-day delay, more than 180 weeks, while another in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde experienced a 1,229-day wait before starting their much-needed treatment last year.
The problem of extended waiting lists is not confined to past cases. Current data indicates that a patient in NHS Highland has been on a waiting list for a staggering 200 weeks, highlighting ongoing challenges. Similarly, a patient in NHS Fife has been waiting for 146 weeks, demonstrating persistent issues within the national health service.
Beyond individual extreme cases, widespread delays are evident. NHS Grampian and NHS Lanarkshire each reported 36 patients who waited over a year to begin treatment in 2024-25, with NHS Forth Valley recording 35 such cases. NHS Dumfries and Galloway also had 33 patients facing waits exceeding twelve months.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton, has sharply criticised the Scottish National Party administration, accusing ministers of “horrifically long” waiting times and “actively harming” patients by leaving them on hold for years. He asserted that these prolonged delays undermine patients’ ability to access essential support when they need it most.
Cole-Hamilton outlined his party’s commitment to addressing the mental health crisis, advocating for policies designed to significantly reduce waiting times. These proposals include increasing the training of mental health first aiders and new staff, along with deploying more specialist professionals within GP surgeries and Accident & Emergency departments.
Furthermore, the Liberal Democrats suggest that policies, such as implementing increased taxes on social media giants, could provide crucial funding to bolster these vital mental health services. This initiative aims to generate revenue specifically for enhancing the capacity and responsiveness of the healthcare system.
In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused by these delays, stating that “long waits are not acceptable.” They highlighted that over 74,000 people commenced psychological therapies last year, with half of patients starting treatment within three weeks of referral in the quarter ending March 2025, indicating an increase in treatment initiations.
