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

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Title: Experiences of youth and caregivers waiting for mental health services in the UK: a qualitative study to inform policy and practice.
Authors: Han, Emeline (AUTHOR), Burton, Alexandra (AUTHOR), Bradbury, Alexandra (AUTHOR), Hayes, Daniel (AUTHOR), Wright, Joely (AUTHOR), Sticpewich, Lou (AUTHOR), Page, Joanna (AUTHOR), Fancourt, Daisy (AUTHOR)
Source: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. May2026, Vol. 35 Issue 5, p1467-1477. 11p.
Subjects: Families & psychology, Mental illness treatment, Medical care for teenagers, Health services accessibility, Mental health services, Research funding, Qualitative research, Child health services, Interviewing, Mindfulness, Psychological adaptation, Judgment sampling, Descriptive statistics, Experience, Thematic analysis, Burden of care, Hobbies, Research methodology, Communication, Data analysis software, Social support, Caregiver attitudes, Medical referrals, Relaxation techniques, Friendship, Adolescence
Geographic Terms: England
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Experiences of youth and caregivers waiting for mental health services in the UK: a qualitative study to inform policy and practice.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Child+%26+Adolescent+Psychiatry%22">European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 35 Issue 5, p1467-1477. 11p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Families+%26+psychology%22">Families & psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+illness+treatment%22">Mental illness treatment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+care+for+teenagers%22">Medical care for teenagers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+services+accessibility%22">Health services accessibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health+services%22">Mental health services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+health+services%22">Child health services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mindfulness%22">Mindfulness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experience%22">Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Burden+of+care%22">Burden of care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hobbies%22">Hobbies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication%22">Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregiver+attitudes%22">Caregiver attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+referrals%22">Medical referrals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relaxation+techniques%22">Relaxation techniques</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Friendship%22">Friendship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescence%22">Adolescence</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22England%22">England</searchLink>
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  Data: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194611718
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        Value: 10.1007/s00787-025-02952-x
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental illness treatment
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      – SubjectFull: Medical care for teenagers
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      – SubjectFull: Health services accessibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health services
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      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
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      – SubjectFull: Child health services
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
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      – SubjectFull: Mindfulness
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      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
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      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
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      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
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