Ms Emer Deasy:

The experiences for parents of children with ADHD are exactly that, in terms of priority of access to mental health services. The urgent cases, such as a child with an eating disorder who may have a medical urgency, will be seen ahead of a child with ADHD. That is what is happening. Even when a child is accepted into CAMHS and the assessment is done, the child may be offered medication as a first course of action. Many parents do not wish to embark on that course. They are processing being given a diagnosis for their child and they may wish for the child to start on medication immediately. There is a significant amount of international research on the care of people with ADHD. Many other therapies can work very well in conjunction with medication. Medication is not the only show in town for an ADHD diagnosis. Other supports relating to behavioural issues, management of emotional regulation and all that can go a long way. No parent wants their child to be medicated first off. They may wish to consider other things. That is where parents are saying their child has a diagnosis but they are not sure they wish to medicate yet. In many cases, the child is discharged from CAMHS at that point.

They might then embark on a route where they are looking to get other therapies, at serious cost to themselves, as Ms Morrison outlined. They might then end up coming back to CAMHS. That is the experience that is out there.