"Psychiatry waiting times"

From first referral into psychiatry in October 2024 and a further urgent referral in February 2025, I have been told that there is a shortage of psychiatrists and even although my referral has been accepted by the team there is no appointments available and it is unknown when I will be seen.

I am seeing my GP regularly, who states they feel I need the appropriate medication to treat me but they cannot prescribe this and I need to await psychiatry. I have been told it is unknown how long I am going to wait and basically need to just hold on for an appointment.

I have a neurodiverse child and I'm trying to navigate being neurodiverse myself while being on my own with 2 children and working as well. The pressure is becoming too much and I feel it's a total failure in the NHS's duty of care to be seen. The GP has suggested I could go private, but this could cost up to £4000 and this is not a position I am in to do this at present. 

I believe this is a failure on NHS Lanarkshire in their duty of care when my mental health is suffering so badly and I cannot be seen. My GP feels I need further assessments with a psychiatrist to help me and now a year later I feel I am still having to fight to be seen.

I understand the staffing is an issue with the psychiatry team, running with 1 instead of 4 psychiatrists, but this is having a detrimental impact on my own health and there doesn't seem to be a way out of this. 

Will it take for me to deteriorate much more before receiving the care/input I need to be able to live my day to day life, as well as being a mum and trying to work to support my children?