A ‘very bleak’ report into CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) has concluded there are “difficulties at every stage of the process” for children in need of help. 

Families for Reform of CAMHS was set up last year amid sustained criticism of the quality of care received by children with mental health problems. 

The group has developed a report into children and families’ experiences of CAMHS and spokesperson Hannah Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín said its findings “aren’t that surprising”. 

“They’re very bleak,” she told The Hard Shoulder. 

“Very low percentages of families feel that their kids are getting adequate support for the different difficulties being experienced. 

“We’re looking at the different stages trying to get into CAMHS; I think there’s a lot of emphasis on the waiting list. 

“Whereas we looked into the actual referral process and we found that 92% of families are reporting that their kids’ mental health deteriorates while in the referral process alone.” 

Usually when a child becomes unwell, a family takes them to their GP and the GP then decides whether the child needs to be referred to CAMHS. 

“We found that 52% of referrals are accepted on the first go,” she said. 

“Then the other 48% require multiple referrals - anywhere up to six onwards.

“Most families are saying their child is not accepted until their child reaches a really critical emergency point. 

“A lot of families - especially families with children with ADHD - have to get private diagnoses to get their referral accepted. 

“That obviously leaves a kind of negative disadvantage to people who can’t afford a private diagnosis or assessment.”

Welcome to CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

Ms Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín said families believe staff are overwhelmingly “doing what they can in a broken service”.  

“Families spoke so highly of certain staff members who they credit with saving their child’s life,” she said. 

“We don’t want that to be forgotten in our message. 

“I think the kids, the families and the staff deserve a lot better. 

“Staff themselves are very open in saying they just don’t have the resources to offer the interventions needed. 

“So, we’re kind of looking at 70% of kids get offered medication and then much lower numbers, about 20%, get offered other interventions like therapies.” 

Solution

Ms Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín described the root of CAMHS problems are “multi-faceted” and there is no simple solution. 

“You’ve got your staffing going into CAMHS,” she said. 

“People don’t want to work in CAMHS because of the bad reputation and it's a very vulnerable clientele. 

“You’ve got young kids and their families and they’re desperate.” 

In January, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said waiting times for CAMHS services were “not close to acceptable”.

Main image: An individual suffering from depression.