Crippling demand leaves children waiting months for mental health help - families urged to speak out
manchestereveningnews.co.ukSkyrocketing demand for children and adolescent mental health services is leaving youngsters facing long waits for help. There has been "an increased demand for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties", says a Greater Manchester patient watchdog.
The last year has been marred by headlines about a crisis in children's mental health services, with calls from MPs for a major cross-government review of children's mental health needs amid warnings about the impact of strained services on schools.
Those calls were ultimately rejected by the Department for Education in December, but have come alongside pleas from teachers, councils and NHS staff alike to tackle the long waits for children suffering with their mental health.
The Manchester Evening News has reported how there have been "unacceptable" failings and years-long delays in providing timely crucial therapy services for children with special needs and disabilities in Oldham.
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