Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Healthwatch Derbyshire spoke to 49 children and young people, together with their parents and carers, during 2017 about their experiences of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across Derbyshire. Most participants first approached a parent, school staff member or GP when seeking help. Feedback about school nurses and school counsellors was overwhelmingly positive, while experiences of GPs were more mixed. Some young people felt well supported and referred appropriately, while others felt their concerns were not taken seriously or that referrals took too long. 

Waiting times were one of the most common concerns. While some young people were seen quickly, others reported waiting several months for support and felt this delayed getting help when they needed it most. Participants also wanted better communication while waiting, including clearer information about what would happen next and how long they could expect to wait. Many young people said the best aspect of CAMHS was having someone to talk to and feeling listened to, although some reported problems with staff continuity, appointment cancellations and long waits to see specialist clinicians. 

A major finding was the lack of support available for parents and carers. Many felt they were given little guidance about how to support their child, where to find help for themselves or what services were available locally. Some parents valued informal advice from CAMHS staff, but many wanted more structured support, information, peer groups and training. Healthwatch also found that awareness of existing support groups appeared low.

Healthwatch concluded that improvements were needed in four key areas: reducing waiting times, improving communication throughout the referral and treatment process, strengthening GP awareness of mental health referrals and support pathways, and offering more information and support for parents and carers. The report also highlighted the importance of flexible appointments, continuity of professionals where possible, and clearer information about what to expect from CAMHS services.