Waiting times for child mental health services 'not acceptable'

Issue being raised with Manx Care as a priority says minister

Waiting times for child & adolescent mental health services on Island have been described as 'shocking' and 'completely unacceptable'.

Figures revealed in Tynwald this week stated that the current average waiting time for child & adolescent mental health services on Island is 217 days.

Meanwhile, the average wait for community health and community wellbeing services was two weeks, and an average three-week wait for older persons mental health provisions.

The issue was raised by Arbory, Castletown & Malew MHK Tim Glover:

Manx charity A Little Piece of Hope provides a variety of services to help parents and children, among those is mental health support depending on a child's needs.

Founder, Helen Walmsley, is deeply concerned about the situation:

Health Minister Lawrie Hooper, who revealed the figures, agreed the situation for child & adolescent mental health services was 'completely unacceptable'.

He says the issue is now being looked into as a matter of urgency:

Manx Radio contacted Manx Care for a statement, as follows:

'Manx Care’s mental health services for children and adolescents is a priority for the organisation with progress being made to support the backlog of individuals waiting to be seen.

'This has been severely exacerbated by the pressures of the Covid pandemic which have seen demand as well as perception significantly increase.

'Mental health support, signposting, crisis response and other programmes have continued despite this. All urgent referrals to CAMHS are assessed within 2 weeks with the current average waiting time for routine assessments just over 200 days.

'Manx Care continues to heavily invest in its mental health services with the appointment of a new CAMHS manager, a consultant, a speciality doctor post, two nurses, one in a liaison role plus one mental health nurse.

'In addition they have also recruited an assistant psychologist and are actively recruiting for a highly specialist psychologist, a band 4 outreach worker and a band 6 mental health practitioner.

'The Thrive programme is being implemented with a multi-government, including stakeholders from a variety of professional backgrounds and sectors. 

'This framework is an integrated, person-centred and needs-led approach to delivering mental health services for children, young people and families which conceptualises need in five categories; Thriving, Getting Advice and Signposting, Getting Help, Getting More Help and Getting Risk Support.  This well-established evidenced-based approach has proven to have excellent patient outcomes.

'The Mental Health Team are also looking to increase the number of on-island nurses being trained. 
 
'The CAMHS team work tirelessly to ensure that children and adolescents receive the support they need.'

CAMHS manager, Dave Rickerby added: “The Covid pandemic and lockdowns have effected adolescents globally with huge increases in disordered eating, emotional dysregulation and difficulties related to autistic spectrum conditions visible around the world.”

“All these positive steps, including others which are planned, will make the service much more responsive however; and we will be working much more closely with allied services such as our colleagues in social care, education, primary care and the third sector as we continue to develop the service.”

'Care is provided in person but also online via Kooth https://www.kooth.com/
Or Quell https://www.qwell.io/

'Manx Care reminds individuals that advice is available from the Crisis Response Home Treatment team for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis that necessitates an immediate response. They can be reached on 642862.'