AN INSPIRING 20-year-old girl has set up a free mental health service after being sick of seeing people die on NHS waiting lists.

Caitlyn Nutt, who struggles with anxiety and depression, noticed how the health board was stretched and wanted to help other people suffering like herself.

She launched Minds Over Matter after becoming worried people were being put off asking for help due to the lack of appointments, doctors, and facilities available because of long waiting times.

Caitlyn has now opened the doors to Cumnock with her weekly sessions offering workshops including massages, animal therapy, beauty tutorials, housing and benefits help, fitness classes, and more.

The news comes as it was revealed that the NHS had again missed the waiting times target for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services treatment.

Now the number of youngsters waiting more than a year for specialist mental health treatment has more than trebled on the NHS within 12 months, official figures show.

A total of 118 children and young people waited more than 53 weeks to be seen in the first three months of 2019 – an increase of over 200% on cases recorded last year.

While the target is for 90% of patents to be seen within 18 weeks of referral, across Scotland fewer than three-quarters were seen within this time.

Caitlyn said: “I suffer quite badly from mental health issues myself and the waiting lists and strain on the NHS means lots of other people are left feeling disheartened after asking for help and not receiving it as quickly as they need it.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“Minds Over Matter is like a stepping stone service that way that people can come along as use it as many times as they like while waiting for NHS help, or maybe they aren't on an NHS waiting list and still feel they could benefit.

“It is non referral, no waiting lists and no appointments.

It comes after suicide levels more than doubled in East Ayrshire last year.

There were 26 suspected suicides between January and November 2018, compare with 12 suicide deaths in 2017.

Now Caitlyn wants to get to the root of the problem and take away the stigma around illnesses like anxiety and depression.

She added: “Its needed as so many people are suffering, the stigma surrounding mental health means a lot of people won't ask for help as they don’t think they’ll get it, they might be embarrassed or they just don’t want a label on an illness, we are all about providing a safe free environment to be around like minded people and do things you might not usually do yourself, while teaching people about mental health and breaking the stigma surrounding it.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition said: “These latest waiting time figures highlight the fact that we are continuing to fail thousands of children and young people with mental health problems.

“The great efforts the Scottish Government is making, including an additional £250 million for mental health over the next five years announced in its recent Programme for Government, is to be welcomed, but more clearly needs to be done.”

The local sessions runs alternate Wednesday or Thursdays at the Heart & Soul Hub, 38-42 Ayr Road, Cumnock, KA18 8EX.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116123.

The following organisations also provide support: CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858, Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, Mind, www.mind.org.

uk, 0300 123 3393, Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41 or Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123.