Shorter IOM waits for ADHD and autism assessments

Waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments on the Isle of Man have fallen from two-and-a-half years to one year, the island's healthcare provider has said.

As part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) transformation project, Manx Care said it wanted to reduce long waits for both neurodiversity assessments and treatment.

The £4m project, which was launched in 2024, also aimed to improve access to mental health support for children and young people through the creation of the Talk@Isle Listen service.

The Department of Health said it was delivering "real and lasting improvements for families across the Island".

"This £4m investment has been fundamental in allowing us to transform how children and young people access mental health support," said Ross Bailey, head of mental health at the Isle of Man government.

"By reducing waiting times, strengthening early intervention and working closely with partners such as Isle Listen's Talk Service, we are seeing real and lasting improvements for families across the Island."

At the start of the project, 819 young people were on the CAMHS waiting list, with many facing long delays for neurodiversity assessments.

All 819 have since been contacted, and 703 people have now been either discharged or are being treated, Manx Care said.

The Talk service was also described as a "major achievement" by the group, with 403 of 906 people referred being helped.

Others were either referred to CAMHS or signposted to other sources of support.

"The outcomes achieved so far demonstrate just how powerful collaboration can be in improving mental health support for young people across the island," said Andrea Chambers, CEO of Isle Listen.

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