ArticleSSM. Mental health2024
Snakes and Ladders: The experience of being referred to and seen by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Article in SSM. Mental health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- An online randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an online intervention for parents/guardians of children aged 4-7 years old who are concerned about their children's emotional and behavioural development: EMERGENT study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Trial
- Characteristics and 12-month outcomes of clinically-referred children and young people at risk of body dysmorphic disorder.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2026Article
- Virtual Care Expansion and Physician Follow-Up Among Youth With First Mental Health Contact Through a Hospital: Population-Based Repeated Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR mental health · 2026Article
- Experiences of youth and caregivers waiting for mental health services in the UK: a qualitative study to inform policy and practice.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026Article
- Investigating the Applicability of the SAFER-YCL Care Bundle for Transitions From CAMHS Crisis and Liaison Services: The Barriers and Enablers.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026Article
- Seen but not heard: A qualitative interview study exploring the views and experiences of children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for support with suicidality.PLOS mental health · 2026Article
- Barriers and facilitators to using standardised diagnostic assessments in child and adolescent mental health services: a qualitative process evaluation of the STADIA trial.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Referral processes in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have been reported as stressful and inadequate by young people and parents/carers, who struggle during waiting periods for the referral outcome decision. The Covid19 pandemic was an unprecedented time of distress for young people, parents/carers, and healthcare staff, with increased mental health challenges and stretched staff having to adapt modes of care, thus exacerbating difficulties for CAMHS. Aim: This qualitative study aimed to capture the unique lived experiences of young people, parents/carers, and CAMHS staff during the referral process in the peak of the Covid19 pandemic. Methods: As part of the STADIA trial, between 2020 and 2022, 109 semi-structured interviews across 8 NHS sites were conducted with young people (aged 16-17), parents/carers, and NHS staff including clinicians, commissioners, managers, and researchers embedded in clinical services. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were elicited to express young people, staff, and parents/carer experiences of the referral process, CAMHS, and the impact of Covid19: 1) referral as a starting point; 2) changes to methods of appointment delivery and their effect on CAMHS experience; and 3) experiences and evaluation of services. Conclusion: Although CAMHS was seen as the pinnacle of mental health support, there was dissatisfaction with waiting times, limited communication, unclear referral processes, and limited clinical capacity and resources for young people, parent/carers, and staff. Covid19 forced CAMHS into adapting to a hybrid model of care, increasing accessibility for young people, parents/carers and staff and highlighting areas for improvement. Secure and consistent support and increases in staff resources are essential to address challenges with CAMHS delivery and improve the experiences of young people, parent/carers, and staff.
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