The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has published its Annual Report on access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The study examines access to specialist services, waiting times for treatment, and provision for the most vulnerable children in England, and is based on new data obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests to mental health providers and local authorities. It found that:
- Over a quarter (26%) of referrals to specialist children’s mental health services were rejected in 2018-2019
- Children waited an average of 56 days to begin treatment in 2019
- Local commissioners and providers of mental health support services often fail to engage with the most vulnerable children and families, such as those in social care
Further information and a link to the full report are on the EPI website.