SCOTLAND: "Thousands" on waitlist for ADHD/ASD dx; 300% increase in neurodiverse youth in 5 yrs

April 14, 2025, BBC News: Thousands on 'hidden' ADHD and autism waiting lists

Thousands of children are on "hidden" waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments, experts have told the BBC.

This is despite the Scottish government hitting its waiting times target for young people's mental health services for the first time last month.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) in Scotland said the number of children on separate lists waiting to be assessed for neurodevelopmental conditions is not routinely published and the Scottish government needs to be more transparent.

Children's Minister Maree Todd described long waits for neurodevelopmental support as unacceptable and said the government was increasing funding to improve access to services.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) aims to help children with mental health problems which are causing a significant impact on their day-to-day lives, such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders.

Last month, the latest official figures showed that 90% of young people had started treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS.

This was the first time the target had been reached since it was set more than a decade ago.

However, Dr Laura Sutherland, who is the vice chair of the RCPsych in Scotland child & adolescent faculty, said children who are the most at risk are prioritised which can result in people with a neurodevelopmental condition waiting longer. .

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"It means young people can't get into education or be supported adequately and ultimately some of these young people will go on to develop mental health conditions on the back of neurodiverse conditions." . . .

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said 7,560 children were waiting for a first appointment as of last spring, while for NHS Lothian the figure was 6,192 and for NHS Lanarkshire it was 8,571.

NHS Highland said 1,537 children were waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment there. . . .

Dr Sutherland, who is also a consultant psychiatrist for CAMHS in Tayside, told the BBC the Scottish government should be more transparent about these "hidden waits". . . .

The most common are for autism and ADHD. . . .

There has been an increase in demand across the country in recent years.

In March, NHS Tayside stopped all new referrals for ADHD and autism to CAMHS due to increase demand for assessments.

Suzi Martin, from the National Autistic Society Scotland, said she was very concerned at the withdrawal of autism assessment services in some areas. . . .

Ms Martin said the society had been calling for more transparency on autism assessment waiting times for years and said they should be published, like they are in England.

The Salvesen Mindroom Centre, a charity that works with young people in Scotland who are neurodivergent, has seen a 295% increase in the number of people it supported last year compared to 2020.

Alan Thornburrow, the chief executive officer, said: "We can't possibly respond to the levels of demand that are out there, it's just impossible to service."

He said there has been a huge increase in the prevalence in anxiety in the young people they support. . . .

Rising demand

There are a wide range of forms of neurodivergence including autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette Syndrome or ADHD which can impact many aspects of life in different ways. . . ..

Dr Sutherland said it is a positive step that children are being seen within the CAMHS target timeframe but warns that there can still be long waits for further treatment or between sessions because of staff shortages and rising demand.

"We are short of about 500 staff of all types - psychiatrists, psychologists, nursing staff - so it is very difficult to meet these targets," she said.

The RCPsych said that referrals to CAMHS had gone up 3% in the past year, with a 500% increase in those referred for eating disorders.

Children's Minister Maree Todd told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "Let me be absolutely clear that long waits for neurodevelopmental support are unacceptable." . . .