Additional funding for children's mental health services

£4 million going towards implementing THRIVE model

An extra contingency fund announced this morning means additional funding to transform children's mental health services on the Island stands at £4 million.

At its board meeting last month, Manx Care confirmed £3.4 million had been approved to help implement the THRIVE model over a three year period.

You can read more about that story HERE.

The Thrive model is the system already in place in the UK which focusses on prevention and early intervention of mental health issues.

Around 1200 children are currently on the CAMHS waiting list, the majority of which are waiting for an Autism or ADHD assessment. 

Of the funding, Manx Care says around £500k will be used for the immediate recruitment of six professionals to assist with those assessments and provide support post-diagnosis.

It adds: 'Once the list is reduced to a sustainable level it is intended that the average waiting time to access CAMHS will then be a maximum of 18 weeks for routine assessments, down from the current average of 48 weeks, with an ambition to offer assessments within six.'

It's hoped the additional funding with help tackle the CAMHS caseload, which Manx Care says has increased by 90% in the last three years, with more than 13% of children and young people aged 4-17 in receipt of treatment or awaiting assessment.

Ross Bailey is the Head of Integrated Mental Health Services: