GLASGOW is one of only five health boards in Scotland meeting waiting time targets for children and teenagers with mental health problems.

New figures show 100% of young people who were treated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde during April-June this year were seen within 26 weeks.

This includes young people with anxiety and behaviour problems, depression and early onset psychosis.

The waiting time is due to be cut to 18 weeks by December this year, with Glasgow currently just missing that mark.

According to a report released by the NHS's information services division, 99.3% of city patients were seen within this timescale.

Only four Scots health boards managed to achieve the new 18 week target, raising concerns among service providers.

The Scottish Children's Services Coalition (SCSC) has slammed the delays for patients, saying the situation is at "crisis point" and has called for the Scottish Government to take urgent action.

A spokeswoman said: "We were already very alarmed at these waiting time figures from some health boards, which compound our concerns and confirm that many do not have the resources to cope with demand.

"It is those children and young people requiring these services who are missing out, the most vulnerable in our society."

Isabella Goldie, head of programmes at Scotland's Mental Health Foundation, said: "We need health boards and integration partnerships to increase the pace of change in recognition that the most significant action they can take to improve mental health across the communities is to act early.

"The evidence tells us that acting early will reduce distress and improve life chances for young people."

hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk