The mental health of children and young people is more critical than ever.
Good mental health is the foundation of a child’s development, influencing cognitive and emotional well-being. It helps them build resilience, cope with challenges, and thrive in various aspects of life. However, the reality for many children in the UK is starkly different.
Recent statistics paint a concerning picture; one in five children and young people in England had a probable mental illness in 2023, a significant increase from previous years. Additionally, nearly one million children accessed mental health services over the same period, showing how hard services are trying, amid such demand.
Yet sadly, The Children’s Commissioner for England reported that over a quarter of a million children are still waiting for mental health support, many of whom sit on waiting lists for neurodevelopmental assessments such as ADHD and autism. Complicating ADHD and autism assessments are “hidden waits” which describe the fact that many children need multiple appointments and other investigations before a diagnosis can be reached, extending the wait between referral and diagnosis even further.
For these children, the impacts can be profound and multi-faceted, affecting various aspects of a child’s life. For instance, children waiting for neurodevelopment assessments often experience massive disruption in their learning and school attendance. Studies have shown that children with ADHD are far more likely to have absenteeism complicated by anxiety, frustration, and difficulties within the family environment. Similarly, those awaiting autism assessments are at greater risk of school exclusion and show poorer educational outcomes than their peers as delays in diagnosis can also lead to delays in support to thrive within schools.
Moreover, the lack of a timely diagnosis and intervention can lead to increased need for urgent interventions such as attending healthcare settings in crisis. Children with undiagnosed ADHD or autism can experience heightened levels of distress leading to more frequent visits to emergency departments at times of difficulty compared to children without a mental health diagnosis.
Prolonged wait times can make the family environment more challenging, leaving family members in a state of uncertainty and stress, contributing further to a worsening in a child’s mental health and wellbeing. Healthcare providers strive to offer the best care possible under challenging circumstances, making it crucial to ensure families do not feel abandoned or unsupported during these critical periods.
Navigating the maze of mental health services, resources and potential support can be daunting, particularly when families are facing delays in getting care from the people they feel are best placed to help. But what if digital technologies could turn this maze into a well-lit path? Imagine a world where there is clarity for service users on the healthcare journey that lies ahead, co-ordination of all the various reports and questionnaires needed along the way, regular check-ins with opportunities to report deterioration and personalised resources just a few clicks away. Digital technologies can play a transformative role here, offering a lifeline to children, families, and healthcare providers alike.
Using the THRIVE framework, which guides the transformation of children and young people’s mental health services, let us explore how specific digital solutions can help address these challenges head on.
Digital platforms can help ensure advice, help, and risk support are available in a timely manner, right where children and their families are - be that at home, school, or elsewhere in the community.
Prevention and health promotion form the cornerstone of effective care. Digital solutions can personalise education and support content to the needs of the child and their family. Not only that, but the style and approach of these materials can be pitched to the individual needs of the person consuming them. This might include self-help, local support groups, specific resources to meet a particular need, and access to a wider selection of interactive apps or online modules to support families while they wait.
Enhancing communication with children and families to keep them informed and updated is crucial. Effective care planning is a vital component of this, where involving service users in the way care is delivered and planning strategies to handle crisis episodes is crucial. Not only that, but digital solutions can provide resources that can be easily consumed by children to enhance their understanding of their healthcare journey and support the creation of care plans personalised to a specific child’s needs.
Supporting the way in which all partners involved in caring for the child remain connected and aware is essential. Digital solutions can connect various parts of the child’s circle of care, coordinate the tasks required from each party, and link different reports, feedback, and information relating to the child in one system.
Using feedback and data to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions ensures continuous improvement. Digital technologies can capture and analyse data on outcomes, providing insights into the effectiveness of different interventions and allowing for more informed decisions about care pathways.
By leveraging technology, we can create a more responsive, inclusive, and effective system that truly supports the mental health and well-being of children and young people. In doing so, we have the best chance of these children adapting and thriving in the face of challenges.
By thoughtfully integrating digital solutions into the care pathways for children with suspected neurodevelopmental disorders, we can address the significant gaps in current healthcare provision. Digital technologies can provide a bridge during waiting periods, ensuring continuous support, better coordination, and ultimately, more timely and effective care for those who need it most. Through shared health records, personalised resources, enhanced communication, digital scheduling, and data-driven insights, we can empower families and professionals to work together in supporting the child’s journey to better health and well-being.
For more on how DrDoctor helps to bridge the technology gap and support children and families on ADHD and autism pathways, discover how our solutions work for mental health.