Fears that children with undiagnosed mental health conditions are “falling through the cracks” have been highlighted by a concerned West Dunbartonshire councillor as waiting times rise.
Earlier this year it was revealed that while initial consultations can take up to 18 weeks, children and young people could then be waiting for up to three years before they are referred to a specialist for treatment.
The issue was addressed again during the most recent community planning meeting where members analysed the work of the nurtured delivery and improvement group (DIG) which aims to ensure all children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.
READ MORE: West Dunbartonshire children waiting up to two years for mental health treatment
Labour councillor Michelle McGinty said: “I am really concerned about the statistics we are getting that say young children are being seen for treatment within 18 weeks where they get an initial consultation or telephone call before they are referred for an assessment which can take two to three years.
“What support are we putting in place? What is happening to children who are not getting that support for two years and how is that affecting them at school? Are they missing out on their education? What are doing to alleviate these pressures because my concerns is that we can’t just be ticking a box.
“It is a long time to wait for those kinds of referrals to take place, to get a diagnosis and to get the specialist treatment and support they need. We need to make sure we are not letting these children fall through the cracks and we are putting things in place to support them, that they would be getting the right support as if they had a diagnosis and then re-look at it again.
“I am very worried as this is a long time to wait for any assessment or any treatment without knowing what we are actually dealing with.”
The nurtured DIG has also confirmed that its priority is to establish a new service for young people experiencing emotional distress with the aim of "ask once get help fast".
The new service West Dunbartonshire Distress Brief Intervention Associate Programme for young people aged 16 years to 24 years is specifically aimed at supporting young people who are experiencing 'emotional distress' and not requiring clinical interventions.
Speaking about the systems already in place, chief education officer Laura Mason, said: “We have got a range of support in schools, depending on whether it is secondary or primary.
“[We adopt a] nurturing approach. Our staff are all being trained up in that. We have the various parenting works that we do with our family outreach, pupil and family support workers and school counsellors as well.
“Whether that is going to take place with the team around the child to see what further support we can put in place, what adjustments we need to make to their day and school and what else we can do around that family to support them - these things would all be taken by whatever case level we required.
“I accept there will be specialist provisions that will help further if they were to hand sooner - that’s a fact.”
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