Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle has admitted that treatment for some mental health problems can take several months from the referral stage.

Replying to a House of Keys question from Peter Karran, he said demand for mental health services has increased by over 16 per cent over the past year. Referrals for 2013-14 totalled over three thousand.

Mr Quayle said: 'Managing increasing demand and expectation is a challenge. However the service is progressing a number of initiatives to assist in this regard.'

The appointment of a full time clinical psychologist along with locum therapists to cover maternity leave have enabled the psychological therapies service, previously with an eight month waiting list, to reduce waiting times, said Mr Quayle.

On average, referrals for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) take seven weeks and a further three to six months for treatment, the waiting list for neurodevelopmental treatment is four to six months, and there is an eight months waiting list for adult psychological therapies, and five months for counselling services.


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