Probe into child mental health
Parents’ spokesperson speaks out
Parents have given a lukewarm welcome to a new Scottish Government task force whose aim is to improve child and adolescent mental health services across the country.
Forth Valley Parents Voices are “saddened” that the inquiry will only focus on rejected referrals and not include how children are treated once within the service.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman recently described the current system of rejecting referrals for child and adolescent mental health services as “completely unacceptable”.
A Scottish Government commissioned report found that young people were not being given adequate explanations for the refusal, or directed to alternative support services.
An audit was carried out by the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and NHS Information Services Division.
To drive change, a new taskforce is being created, backed with £5 million of investment, to reshape and improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Mental health expert Dr Dame Denise Coia will head the taskforce, with an expectation for initial recommendations for action being provided over the summer.
Ms Freeman said: “Demand on mental health services is growing but far too many young people are being turned away from help or waiting too long to be seen. This report finds that, while CAMHS may not be the right path for some of those referred, young people are being rejected from treatment without proper explanation or being directed to more appropriate care. That is completely unacceptable.”
However, Forth Valley Parents Voices spokesperson Katie Sneddon believes the issues run much deeper.
“We as a parent support group have many parents of children who find themselves discharged from the service then having to re-refer through a GP or education,” she added.
“Many of these parents are frustrated and angry because the first and sometimes second referral focused more on meeting with the parents than the child themselves.
“We know of a few children who have taken their own lives after CAMHS discharged them and were told that the CAMHS service was not able to offer any help. Let’s not forget the fact that many children are on medication prescribed by CAMHS to treat ADHD without assessments and or a diagnosis.
“These children are then waiting three times longer between vital follow up appointments to check their wellbeing on medication, due to the pressures by the government to keep waiting times down. CAMHS therefore filter more referrals through to see more children, leaving families already within the service waiting longer between appointments.
“As a parent support group we will continue to campaign for a full audit and review of why this service has failed so many children and families.”
An NHS Forth Valley spokesperson said: “Local mental health services for children and young people have changed significantly over the last few years to help increase capacity and reduce waiting times.
“Additional specialist staff have been recruited in all areas including intensive treatment nurses to provide support to children and young people who have significant mental health difficulties, and additional child psychologists. The team are also working with partners to enable professionals to effectively recognise children’s mental health strengths and difficulties. This work aims to identify difficulties at a much earlier stage and ensure the provision of collaborative accessible and responsive interventions for children and families.
“Staff follow nationally-agreed guidelines for diagnosis and treatment and continue to do everything possible to support local children and their families.”