Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41489632›Full record

ArticleEuropean child & adolescent psychiatry2026

Experiences of youth and caregivers waiting for mental health services in the UK: a qualitative study to inform policy and practice.

Emeline Han, Alexandra Burton, Alexandra Bradbury, Daniel Hayes, Joely Wright, Lou Sticpewich, Joanna Page, Daisy Fancourt

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European child & adolescent psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Emeline HanSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. emeline.han@ucl.ac.uk.
Alexandra BurtonSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Alexandra BradburySocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Daniel HayesSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Joely WrightSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Lou SticpewichSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Joanna PageSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Daisy FancourtSocial Biobehavioural Research Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.

Funding

Economic and Social Research Council MARCH, ES/S002588/1National Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR303370The Prudence Trust INSPYRE, PT-0040Wellcome Trust SHAPER, 219425/Z/19/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Long waitlists are the most commonly reported barrier to accessing mental health services in the UK and across Europe. Yet, we have almost no understanding of the lived experiences of waiting among youth and their caregivers. In this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 20 youth (aged 11-17) and 15 caregivers from ten child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) sites geographically spread across England. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyse the data. We generated four themes that characterised participants' experiences of waiting: (1) decline in mental and physical health, (2) strain on family dynamics and wider relationships, (3) unclear processes and communication, and (4) perceived mismatch between need and support. We also generated four themes illustrating participants' coping strategies while waiting: (1) using self-help and parenting resources, (2) engaging in hobbies, (3) relying on social support, and (4) seeking alternative services. There is an urgent need to shorten CAMHS wait times as our findings show the adverse impact of waiting on youth and their families, with mental health worsening not just due to time passing but as a direct result of being put on a waitlist. While youth on CAMHS waitlists make active efforts to manage their symptoms, limitations to these coping strategies suggest that improved information sharing and tailored interim support is needed to mitigate against mental health deterioration while waiting.

Indexed as

CaregiversHealth Services AccessibilityMental DisordersMental Health ServicesWaiting ListsAdaptation, PsychologicalAdolescentAdolescent Health ServicesChildFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchSocial SupportUnited KingdomChild and adolescent mental health servicesCoping strategiesLived experiencesMental health policyQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID41489632
PMCPMC13272595

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.