As a coalition of leading providers of care and support to vulnerable children and young people, we welcome the consensus there is between the major political parties in the Scottish Parliament election to tackling the growing mental health crisis in our young people.

We have for some time raised concerns over a potential lost generation of vulnerable children and young people, whose

mental health is being impacted even further by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The commitment by the political parties to focus on mental health, increasing investment in support services and intervention strategies, is therefore to be appreciated and must be a priority for the next parliament.

Our children are remarkably resilient, but the frightening statistics on the deteriorating mental health of many of them presents a compelling case for a national crusade to address what is a mental health pandemic, underpinned by considerably greater resourcing.

This mental health crisis is one we can address, but it will require a similar energy and commitment to that which was demonstrated for Covid-19 if we are to achieve this and prevent many young people giving up on their futures – and themselves.

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition

I RECENTLY re-watched the incredible video for Guns N Roses’ 1991 classic “November Rain” and it led to me reflecting upon the sad state of affairs that is contemporary music.

Sure, there are still some good bands around, but they never achieve such levels of success or decadence nowadays.

It’s unthinkable that a song with three guitar solos could come even close to being a top 40 hit in 2021.

It’s almost as if the masses have lost their appetite for destruction.

Glasgow Times readers, I urge you to join in with me at home by picking up our air guitars, raising devil horn salutes and head-banging our way through the remainder of this pandemic. Someday soon we will be able to relive the thrill of rockin’ out with our friends, and just perhaps the rest of the world will join us and better times for music will follow.

It’s felt like an eternity since we could last enjoy ourselves.

D Brown

Hill Street

IT’S so sad to see libraries are going to close in our city.

We must fight this.

Robert Shaw

Via email