Charity calls for government to do more to help children with mental health issues 

A Little Piece of Hope fundraising to help youngsters be seen privately

A charity is calling on government to 'throw money' at helping young people suffering with their mental health. 

A Little Piece of Hope claims there's currently a two year wait for youngsters to get a diagnosis through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. 

In order to try and combat the length of time families are waiting A Little Piece of Hope has been fundraising to help children be seen privately.

It’s funding ADHD and ASD assessments, for people up to the age of 21, by the private company Triskelle.

So far the charity has raised £12,500 – and spent £7,000 helping those who’ve approached the group for help.

You can find the link to the crowdfunding page HERE.

Trustee Helen Sheppard says they have six children on the waiting list for a diagnosis and are aiming to raise £30,000 by next year:

In response to the current waiting lists Manx Care says they can be attributed - in part - to the lack of a multi-agency strategy on the Isle of Man for supporting the development of mental health, resilience and emotional wellbeing in children.

That’s alongside the absence of early intervention in partnership with other agencies. 

In order to start reducing waiting lists the health body adds it is supporting the delivery of the Thrive framework which is needs-led, and aims to establish an integrated, multi-agency framework on the Island to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of children, young adults up to the age of 25 and the adults who look after them. 

READ ALSO: Lack of mental health options for children feels wrongs says Manx Care CEO

Manx Care adds while individuals may be assessed privately for mental health services, and can be referred into CAMHS from a private assessment, it will not expedite their time on the CAMHS waiting list.

In March this year Head of Mental Health Ross Bailey told Manx Radio resources to support children suffering with mental health issues weren't good enough.

At that point he admitted a 35-week wait for youngsters was 'utterly unacceptable' - revealing that more than one in 10 children aged 4-17 on the Island have been referred to CAMHS - 400 per cent higher than in England and Wales:

Back to A Little Piece of Hope then and Helen believes it's time government steps up: