It's a 'mental health emergency' for kids

Nearly 500 vulnerable children have waited over a year for help

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

ALMOST 500 children have waited more than a year for mental health treatment, according to shocking figures.

Yesterday, the situation was described by a doctor as a "mental health emergency" as the Scottish Government said "more work needs done to bring waiting lists down.

Figures show more than a quarter of all kids referred for mental health fail to get an appointment in the target time of 18 weeks.

More than 7700 are stuck on waiting lists and 460 have waited over a year.