CAMHS' demand increases by 83 per cent

1,370 children currently on caseload

Demand on children’s mental health services on the Isle of Man has increased by 83 per cent in two years.

Manx Care has described the jump as a ‘stark increase’.

It means one in 10 children – aged between 4 and 17 - are waiting for assessment or treatment within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

The figures are ‘significantly higher’ than the UK – Manx Care says it’s working to establish a ‘multi-agency approach’ in order to bring waiting lists down.

Ross Bailey, head of integrated mental health services, said: "At the moment we’re establishing a comprehensive picture of the current system of services for children and young people’s mental health across the Isle of Man and implementing the Thrive Framework where possible. 

"The Isle of Man does not currently have a national strategy for this and so we’re contributing to the development and implementation of a new mental health and wellbeing strategy founded upon the principles of integration, early intervention and recovery, which is really important for the reduction of waiting lists and making sure people get the right help at the right time."