Being on a waiting list for mental health support can be a lonely and debilitating experience for a young person. But one that is, sadly, all too common.
As Sean Duggan, chief executive of the mental health network at NHS Confed, points out in a recent article, originally published in the HSJ:
- between November 2019 and November 2023, the UK has seen a 158% increase in the number of referrals to mental health services
- in the same period, one in ten children and young people were waiting more than seven months for their first appointment
In the article, Sean refers to the many services that are experiencing the knock-on effects of this high demand, from GP surgeries, schools and paediatric services to A&E, emergency services, local authority services and the voluntary sector..
Because of a lack of available and accessible support and a lack of sufficient focus on prevention, it’s all too easy to imagine this cohort of young people in need of more intensive and acute treatment as they move into adulthood.
The point is that the longer the treatment is delayed, the more difficult it is to recover. Patterns of behaviour and associated thoughts can become more entrenched and issues can escalate. That’s to say nothing of individual suffering and the wider impacts felt by family, friends and teaching staff.
Preventative digital services like Kooth provide immediate support and guidance not only for those with new and emerging struggles but for those on waiting lists. It’s not uncommon for children and young people to have support from Kooth while they’re on a waiting list, during their treatment and as a ‘step-down’ when treatment ends. In fact, it’s not uncommon for those on waiting lists to receive one-to-one help from Kooth practitioners to the point where they can come off CAMHS waiting lists altogether.
This week, Kooth joined more than 60 organisations calling for greater focus and commitment from current and future governments on mental health under the Centre for Mental Health’s ‘Mentally Healthier Nation’ initiative. We are united in the knowledge that every single person in need should have timely access to mental health support if and when they need it.
The insights shared by Sean around demand, waiting lists and system impacts underline the urgent need for accessible and available support for children and young people as never before.