HEALTH chiefs have made a commitment to provide “timely and effective” mental health care for all those in East Renfrewshire who need it.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has one of the shortest waiting times – four weeks – for patients to be seen for psychological therapy.

A spokesperson said: “Demand for mental health care has significantly increased.

"Our highly-dedicated staff are committed to quality care and patient safety and this is reflected in our performance in continuing to exceed the Scottish Government target of seeing more than 90 per cent of patients within 18 weeks for psychological therapies.

“We are committed to continuing this good work and maximising the number of patients we see within the 18-week target.”

There were 12 recorded suicides in East Renfrewshire last year – double the 2017 total.

The spokesperson added: “We are committed to doing all we can to prevent suicide. Every incident is a tragedy which significantly impacts on families and friends.”