ACCESSING CAMHS

Post pandemic, mental illness amongst children and young adults has reached widespread proportions. The waiting list to access mental health support in the UK is at an all-time high, with many having to endure months of worry and stress, even for profound problems such as self-harm or suicide ideation. One of the reasons for these lengthy delays is the time it takes to diagnose a patient. A treatment pathway has to be decided upon between the parents, the clinicians and the patient. This triage process takes time to understand and is what our animation aims to address.

Prior to attending the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), parents are asked to view the animation in order to decide which of the 4 stages best represents their child’s situation, and therefore which treatment pathway is best suited for them. This expedites the diagnostic process and speeds up treatment for that specific patient and subsequent patients within the organisation.

We chose animation as it was the ideal medium to convey complex information in an engaging way, both for parents and for the children and young adults who require treatment. Our research shows that often, patients struggle to process complex information because of their mental state. In collaboration with CAMHS representatives, we were able to transform copious amounts of information into a bitesize animation.

The animation aims to be rolled out across all Trusts in the UK as part of a diagnostic evaluation. With each animation being adapted to the local Trust it is used by, we hope it will radically reduce waiting times within CAHMS, enabling those suffering to receive the help that they need quicker and tailored to their specific requirements.