Put Kids First
Standing up for Scotland’s next generation
Scotland has made good strides in tackling poor mental health and illness. But the warning signs are clear: post-pandemic, we risk a lost generation, consigned to poor mental health, high unemployment and economic inactivity. The costs of inaction are too high.
The time to act is now.
This election, Change Mental Health asks Scotland’s politicians to sign our ‘Put Kids First’ pledge to protect the mental health of our young people – now and in the future.
Our pledges
1. Protect childhood: Ban social media for under 16’s
After waiting decades to respond to tobacco and alcohol harms, Governments cannot afford to delay a coordinated response to the public health crisis of our time. Digital platforms now maximise engagement and increasingly shape young people’s development. Evidence links heavy and nighttime use to poor sleep, anxiety, depression, cyberbullying and harmful comparison. Under-16s remain neurologically vulnerable and need enforceable age protections. Safeguarding children’s mental wellbeing should be an urgent public health priority, requiring coordinated action from the Scottish and UK Governments to implement a ban.
2. Stop the distractions: Ban mobile phones during the school day
Consistent national requirements restricting mobile phone use during the school day would help reduce distraction, limit exposure to online harms and create calmer learning spaces. Current guidance allows for headteacher discretion; yet we believe this issue cuts to the heart of society’s worsening relationship with technology and social media. We call for a compulsory mobile phone ban in Scotland’s schools.
3. Give schools the tools: Mandatory mental health training for all school staff
School staff are often the first adults to notice changes in behaviour or mood. Every teacher and member of support staff should have the skills to recognise early signs of distress and respond appropriately. Mandatory, high-quality mental health training for all school staff would enable earlier identification, reduce stigma and ensure young people are signposted to the right support at the right time.
4. Enhance support for all: Ringfence funding for preventative community mental health services
Early community intervention prevents costly crisis care. Funding for preventative mental health services must be protected and ringfenced to ensure accessible local support based on need, reducing long-term pressure on health, social care and social security systems.
5. Build hope: A job, training or educational place for every young person through a Young Person’s Guarantee programme
Every 16–24-year-old in Scotland should have access to work, training, education or meaningful roles when needed, as the transition to adulthood is critical for long-term wellbeing. Disengagement from work or learning is linked to poorer mental health, financial insecurity and inequality. A properly resourced national programme must prioritise those facing the greatest barriers, with coordinated wrap around support to sustain participation. Guaranteeing opportunity is both an economic and public health priority, providing purpose, stability and hope at a formative stage of life.
Sign the pledge to Put Kids First
Sign the pledge to Put Kids First
