Mental Health Support To Be Examined Amid 'Serious Concerns' With Treatment Delays

Access to mental health support for young people on the Isle of Wight will be examined by county councillors this week, amid ‘serious concerns’ with delays in accessing treatment right across the country.

The adult social care, public health and housing needs committee is due to discuss Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) on Thursday evening.

Councillors will focus on referral pathways, CAMHS performance and the statutory responsibilities of the NHS under Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs), according to a committee report.

EHCPs are for children and young people aged up to 25 who require more support than is available through special educational needs provision.

They identify educational, health and social needs and lay out the extra support to cater to those needs.

The report says:

“The recent (national) data reveals that in 2023/24, over 910,000 young people were referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), yet 64 per cent did not receive treatment within four weeks, and 78,577 waited over a year, with 34,191 waiting more than two years.

“These delays raise serious concerns about the impact on young people’s wellbeing and the adequacy of current service provision.”

As of May 2025, the average wait to first contact with Island CAMHS was ‘4.3 weeks against a national target of four weeks’, according to a document submitted by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

“The Isle of Wight Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) provide a service to children and young people and their families, who are experiencing emotional health and wellbeing difficulties due to a mental health condition.

“We work with any child aged 0-18 that requires specialist provision to manage severe mental health concerns and risk-taking behaviours.

“Within Isle of Wight CAMHS there are child and adult psychotherapists, systemic family therapists and clinical psychologists who specialise in OCD, ticks, Tourette’s, as well as adverse childhood experiences and trauma.

“Also within our team are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, consultant psychiatrists, youth offending mental health practitioners and a joint CAMHS/paediatric nurse.

“We also offer consultation, partnership and liaison for professionals to support children and young people with mental health concerns.”

Committee members will meet at County Hall at 5pm on Thursday.