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A recent study has revealed that many children and young people with diagnosable mental health disorders are not receiving the timely help they need. The findings come from the STADIA trial, a comprehensive research project led by experts from the University of Nottingham’s School of Medicine. The trial, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, highlights significant delays in access to care for young people struggling with emotional difficulties.
The study, which spanned multiple regions across England, involved 1,225 children and young people who had been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) due to emotional challenges. Researchers followed up with the participants over an 18-month period to assess their progress.
The results were concerning: 67% of participants scored very high for at least one emotional disorder, commonly depression or anxiety, yet only 11% received a formal clinical diagnosis of an emotional disorder from CAMHS. Additionally, only 44% of the children had their referrals to CAMHS accepted, and 35% required re-referrals, indicating significant delays in receiving appropriate support.
One year after their referral, many of the children showed no improvement in their mental health. Symptoms such as high levels of self-reported and parent-reported distress, functional impairment, and self-harm thoughts persisted. Even at 18 months, less than half of the participants had received any treatment or intervention from CAMHS.
Professor Kapil Sayal, Chief Investigator of the STADIA trial, expressed deep concern over the findings. “We are very concerned that many children and young people with high levels of mental health needs, particularly conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders, are struggling to access help and have their difficulties appropriately recognized,” he said. “Delays in accessing the right care mean their distress is unnecessarily prolonged.”
The study also found that the completion of an online standardized diagnostic assessment tool by young people and parents had no impact on receiving a clinical diagnosis from CAMHS. However, the research suggested that online and digital approaches to diagnostic assessment were well-received by families and young people, offering a potential pathway for improving access to care if sufficient investment is made in CAMHS.
Professor Sayal noted that the study period, which included referrals made between 2019 and 2021, coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated disruptions, such as national lockdowns and school closures. This period led to heightened levels of uncertainty and stress for many young people, which may have contributed to the surge in mental health referrals. However, the increased demand on CAMHS services has made it harder for many to receive timely support.
Colleen Ewart, a parent and co-investigator of the STADIA trial, shared her own experience of the difficulties in accessing care, saying, “Sadly, the stories I hear from young people and their parents or caregivers still echo our family experience of 15 years ago. We can and must do better for this generation of children and young people.”
The study’s findings stress the urgent need to reduce delays in mental health care for children and young people. Timely intervention is crucial to prevent long-term suffering and improve outcomes for future generations.
For further information, the study is published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry under the title “The Clinical and Cost Effectiveness of a STAndardised DIagnostic Assessment for Children and Adolescents with Emotional Difficulties (STADIA)”.
