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Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says the government is carrying out a review of personal and social education (PSE).

The minister says there are already good examples of PSE like Wallace High School

Ms Lamont says in the petition that beta blockers weren't anti-depressants but seen as an anti-anxiety treatment.

Dr Mitchell says propanolol is used for treating anxiety by steadying the pulse.

He says it is used in treating anxiety but not used in treating depression.

Ms Lamont says if you were prescribing it you would not prescribe it to someone in crisis.

Dr Mitchell says he would not have thought so.

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SNP MSP Angus Macdonald asks about extending CAMHS to people aged up to 25.

The mental health minister says this is being considered and the children's commissioner will engage with stakeholders on this.

Recommendations will then be presented to ministers, she says.

Mr Macdonald asks about funding and the minister confirms direct support for mental health and innovation improvement is going up by 2%, as set out in the draft budget.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks about the review of consent announced by Scotland's chief medical officer.

Dr John Mitchell says the review is currently underway and a consultation can be expected in March.

Ms Mackay wonders about whether young people are capable of giving informed consent.

Dr Mitchell argues they are trusted to do so for various conditions and says it should be permitted.

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Ms Lamont says, in general terms, a person prescribed anti-depressants on her first visit might have required the family to be brought in

The minister "We don't know the circumstances of this case."

Ms Watt says: "We don't know what went on in this particular case."

Dr John Mitchell says a GP could be immediately concerned about a young person being in severe distress, a GP would not say they would treat someone with an anti-depressant but do more for the patient.

Dr Mitchell says the level of concern of the GP would rise so they would not manage the situation on their own.

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne wonders how the government ensures GPs have adequate training in supporting young people.

Specifically, she asks about guidance given to under 18s so they are able to make informed decisions.

She notes the higher number of overdoses among young women.

Maureen Watt says GPs are very experienced in considering mental health and wellbeing.

GPs must undertake 50 hours on continuous professional development each year, she notes, with modules in child and adolescent mental health available.

Asked by Ms Ballantyne about GPs awareness of non-pharmacological solutions, Dr John Mitchell repeats that prescribing is the last options for GPs, with consideration of family situations and the potential for therapy the first point of call.

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Last August BBC Scotland found that four times as many children under 13 were prescribed antidepressants last year as just seven years ago.

Last year 252 children aged 12 and under were given antidepressants while in 2009/10 it was 57.

During the same period the numbers for all children under 18 doubled from 2,748 in 2009/10 to 5,572 last year.

The Scottish government said the increase reflected a rise in the number of young people seeking help.

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Ms Lamont says in the case in the petition the anti-depressants were prescribed on the first visit.

The mental health minister says there is no evidence that access to psychological therapies would reduce anti-depressant prescriptions.

She says she does not know the conversation of the petitioner's daughter with the doctor.

Ms Lamont says she is concerned the increase of prescriptions is seen as positive by the minister and calls for this issue to be looked into.

Dr John Mitchell, principal medical officer and psychiatric adviser at the Scottish government, adds that the prescribing of anti-depressants by GPs is generally appropriate.

He says the rise in prescriptions on anti-depressants is due to more people seeking treatment.

Anti-depressants are not the first option for young people seeking help, he states.

Convener Johann Lamont notes that, in the case of Annette McKenzie's daughter, Britney, the anxiety drugs were prescribed in the first instance.

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Committee convener Johann Lamont asks the Scottish government's views about the prescription of anti depressants to under 18s.

Ms Lamont says there is an indication of an increase, which has been seen as more young people seeking help.

Ms Watt says the rise in prescriptions is explained by better diagnosis.

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Last March the Scottish government unveiled its new strategy on mental health, committing to spend more than £300m to tackle it in the next five years.

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt said her ambition was for mental and physical illnesses to achieve "parity of esteem" in the way they are treated.

Ms Watt told MSPs she would work hard to tackle poverty as the "biggest driver" of poor mental health.

There are 40 actions in the Scottish government's new strategy.

They include:

• Increasing mental health workforce in A&E, GP practices, police stations and prisons
• Reviewing counselling and guidance services in schools
• Reforming adults with incapacity legislation so it complies with best international standards
• Establishing a bi-annual forum of mental health experts to help guide the implementation

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt delivers an opening statement, first offering her condolences to petitioner Annette McKenzie, whose daughter died from an overdose in 2016.

Early intervention and prevention is the cornerstone of the Scottish government's approach to mental health, she says.

A draft suicide prevention action plan - to be published in spring - is currently being created, the minister confirms.

On the petition itself, she argues young people have a right to confidentiality and warns removing this may dissuade young people from seeking medical advice.

Image source, Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

Annette McKenzie first gave evidence on her petition the Public Petitions Committee in January last year.

Her daughter, Britney, overdosed on anti-anxiety pulls in July 2016.

Ms McKenzie, who had been unaware her daughter had be prescribed Propanol, wants the law changed to prevent under-18s being prescribed medication without parental consent.

She said the current system was "letting young people down".

Read more.

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Public Petitions Committee convener Johann Lamont welcomes the mental health minister and her officials.

This petition is urged the Scottish government to ensure parents or guardians are consulted before prescribing medication to treat mental ill health if the patient is under 18 years of age.

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It is hearing from:

• Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt
• Ruth Christie, Mental Health and Protection of Rights Division at the Scottish government
• Dr John Mitchell, Principal Medical Officer and Psychiatric Adviser at the Scottish government

View the petition and submission., external

The Public Petitions Committee, external is taken evidence on two petitions today.

The first is on gaining parental consent when prescribing drugs to under 18s for mental health issues. It will take evidence from:

• Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt
• Ruth Christie, mental health and protection of rights division at the Scottish government
• Dr John Mitchell, principal medical officer and psychiatric adviser at the Scottish government

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The second session will focus on prescribed drug dependence, with evidence from:

• Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt
• Jenny Simons, mental health and protection of rights division at the Scottish government
• Dr John Mitchell, principal medical officer and psychiatric adviser at the Scottish government