At current estimates, thousands of children throughout Scotland are waiting unacceptable periods of time on waiting lists for assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and ADHD. On the ground, advocates and experts stress that there must be increased transparency around these delays. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) aim to support children facing significant mental health challenges that affect their daily lives, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders. Referrals are up, and the need for services is growing by the day. As a consequence, the public seeking neurodevelopmental evaluations are experiencing increased wait times.
According to the latest statistics, referrals to CAMHS have increased by 3% in the last year. Alarmingly, these referral rates for eating disorders have increased by a shocking 500%. The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) in Scotland emphasizes that the number of children waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments is not routinely published, raising concerns about the transparency of the Scottish government’s reporting on CAMHS waiting times.
Dr Laura Sutherland, vice chair of the RCPsych in Scotland’s child and adolescent faculty, pointed to one major problem. Although CAMHS prioritise children who are most severely at risk, this approach can have the perverse effect of lengthening waiting times for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. The imperative for immediate evaluations. Timely assessments are essential since untreated conditions can result in long-term mental health consequences.
“The long waits for neurodevelopmental support are unacceptable,” stated Maree Todd, a member of the Scottish government. More than anything, I think she understood the frustration that Americans face when they seek care. She reiterated the critical importance of improving access to mental health care across the country.
CAMHS is a multi-disciplinary service, which would expect to include specialist healthcare professionals including psychiatrists who assess children for their neurodevelopmental needs and provide diagnoses. The objective is to help children in no more than 18 weeks from the date of the referral. The most recent official statistics show that no more than 90% of young people were treated within this defined timeframe. In reality, though, entities such as NHS Highland indicated that as of September 2022, there were 1,537 kids waiting for neurodevelopmental evaluations.
Rosie, who was CAMHS at eight, told us about her experiences with Rosie service. Even after going to all her appointments and sessions she still faced lengthy delays in between visit times. “It took five years before I was diagnosed with autism,” she recalled. The months-long process had her second-guessing herself, putting hope she might have had in limbo until its arrival.
“Getting that confirmation was very overwhelming and I broke down in tears,” Rosie said. She went on to thank her therapist for the support she’d received, saying, “I’m more of a bubbly in-person now. I definitely wasn’t as smiley or as amenable but she’s really brought me out of my shell.
The Salvesen Mindroom Centre is a Scottish charity that advocates for the wellbeing of neurodivergent youth. Last year, they helped 295% more people than in 2020! This increase reflects the stark need for neurodiversity-affirming support services for youth navigating neurodevelopmental conditions.
As Dr. Sutherland pointed out, the ramifications of these delays in diagnosis can be immense. “It means young people can’t get into education or be supported adequately,” she explained. “Ultimately, some of these young people will go on to develop mental health conditions on the back of neurodiverse conditions.”
Suzi Martin, another field expert, made it clear that timely diagnoses are critical. “Not only is diagnosis a validating and life-affirming experience for many, but families tell us that it can be extremely challenging, if not impossible, to get support without one.”
The demand for services keeps increasing, said Alan Thornburrow. He added, it has gotten increasingly difficult to serve the people who want to find recovery. “We can’t possibly respond to the levels of demand that are out there. It’s just impossible to service,” he remarked.
These challenges in CAMHS and neurodevelopmental assessments are symptomatic of a wider recruitment and retention crisis affecting mental health services in Scotland. As waiting lists continue to grow and concerns about access persist, experts call for urgent reform and increased investment in mental health care.
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