Adolescents’ experiences of waiting for CAMHS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adolescents’ experiences of waiting for Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services(CAMHS): A narrative inquiry
IRAS ID
235991
Contact name
Joanna Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 4 days
Research summary
Children and Young People (CYP) with mental health difficulties are often referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for specialist help. These CYP can often wait for lengthy periods before being seen by the CAMHS department. Having a mental health difficulty can be detrimental to well being and can have an impact on healthy development in the short or long term. It is generally unknown if waiting for CAMHS has a detrimental impact on CYP’s well being and it is generally unknown what the experience of waiting for CAMHS is like for CYP.Additionally we do not know who supports CYP (if anyone) whilst they wait for CAMHS. \nThis study will explore adolescents’ (aged 13 - 18) experiences of referral and waiting for CAMHS by asking them to tell their stories about their experience during two interviews. The findings from the study will be used to look at ways of improving services for CYP when and whilst they are referred and waiting for CAMHS. \nThe interviews will take place in one CAMHS Department in Highland.The first interview will be undertaken to hear the adolescent’s story and ask some semi structured questions to qualify understanding of their story. The second interview will involve the researcher showing the adolescent their story written down in chronological order and asking them if the researcher has captured their story from their perspective. Each interview will take approximately one hour and the interviews will be held within a three week period. \n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
18/NS/0088
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion