"I feel that the system is completely failing"

Three children with ADHD and ASD have been refused repeated requests by their GP’s for over a decade to get on the CAHMS waiting list. I had to pay privately for three ADHD assessments and only my middle boy made it to CAHMS once he was diagnosed. The oldest, who was given one appointment in April, still hasn’t been seen by adult mental health services.

I feel that the system is completely failing children’s mental health. The youngest was assessed at school by an educational psychologist as having ASD two years ago and has been privately diagnosed for ADHD but still hasn’t been seen. There is a whole generation of children not able to get the support and treatment they need for mental health condition's and being completely failed.

My oldest was completely depressed and not functioning and CAHMS just apologised for this, but still couldn’t offer him an appointment.