The Scottish government has achieved its target for referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for the first time since it was set over a decade ago. This achievement comes as the First Minister prioritizes clearing the CAMHS backlog by the end of the year. According to recent data, just over 90% of children and young people referred for mental health care in Scotland began treatment within 18 weeks. This marks a significant milestone in addressing mental health needs among young Scots.
The latest statistics reveal a slight increase in the proportion of under-18s starting treatment, with a 0.3% rise from 3,801 in the previous quarter. However, there is concern as the number of children and young people starting treatment within four weeks of referral decreased from six weeks compared to both the previous quarter and last year's figures.
Experts and charities have responded with both praise and caution. The charity Children First commended the progress in meeting waiting time targets, yet emphasized the need for continued improvement. Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First, remarked on the persistent issue of delayed support, stating:
"The fact remains that children are often not getting support until they are in severe distress. This must stop." – Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First
Meanwhile, the Scottish Children's Services Coalition (SCSC) expressed concerns about ongoing challenges. They highlighted that 145 children and young people have been waiting over a year for mental health treatment, underscoring gaps in service provision. A spokesperson for SCSC urged for more resources:
"Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the Scottish government ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits." – A spokesperson for the Scottish Children's Services Coalition (SCSC)
Specialists have argued that CAMHS should focus on those with the most serious mental health issues while recommending enhanced services in schools and communities to support young individuals with milder conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, or autism. Despite progress, there is no national data capturing how many children await neurodivergence assessments rather than CAMHS specialist consultation.
Families report being left in limbo due to protracted waiting times for assessments, notably ADHD evaluations which can take up to three years through the NHS. Charities caution against resource competition amid shortages of psychologists and psychiatrists. Dr. Kandarp Joshi, Chair of the CAMHS Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, acknowledged the achievement but warned against complacency:
"Alarmingly, waiting times may be even higher because the Scottish government don't report on the wait after a young person's first assessment." – Dr. Kandarp Joshi
"Meeting the 18-week waiting time target for the first time was welcome news, but ministers cannot assume the job is now done." – Dr. Kandarp Joshi
Public Health Scotland’s data also revealed a slight increase in the overall number of young people waiting to start treatment in the three months leading up to December last year. This highlights ongoing demand and underscores the need for sustained efforts to improve accessibility to mental health services.
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