One of the most demoralising things about seeking help for a child’s mental health is being told to wait. Months, sometimes over a year, while your child continues to struggle and you continue to worry.
It’s important to say clearly: this is not acceptable, and many families and clinicians share your frustration. But it is the reality for the majority of families in the UK right now. Understanding what you can do in the meantime — and what you can reasonably expect — can make the wait more bearable and more productive.
Realistic waiting time expectations
Waiting times vary significantly by area. Some parts of the country have waits of under six months for a CAMHS assessment. Others have waits of two years or more. The NHS publishes waiting time data, but it can be difficult to interpret.
The most direct approach is to call your local CAMHS service and ask specifically: what is the current wait from referral to first appointment? Note down the date you called and what you were told.
What you can do while you wait
The waiting period is not empty time. There is a great deal that can be done to support your child and to prepare for the assessment appointment.
Keep a detailed diary
A behaviour diary — noting what happens, when, what precedes it, and what the impact is — is one of the most valuable things you can bring to a CAMHS assessment. It demonstrates the pattern over time in a way that a single conversation cannot.
Contact your child’s school
Speak to the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) at your child’s school. They can observe your child in the school environment, put low-level support in place, and contribute a professional perspective to the assessment process. Their written observations can be very helpful.
Access lower-level support
Depending on the nature of your child’s difficulties, there may be services available that don’t require a CAMHS referral:
- Many areas have Early Help services that can support families while waiting for specialist assessment
- Local charities and voluntary organisations often run support groups for parents of children with autism or anxiety
- Anxiety Canada and similar organisations offer free evidence-based resources and apps (such as MindShift) that can help children manage anxiety while waiting
- The Anna Freud Centre and other national organisations offer resources for parents supporting a child with OCD
Consider private assessment
If waiting is genuinely harmful for your child — if their difficulties are escalating significantly — a private assessment may be worth considering. This is a significant financial commitment (typically £1,500 to £3,000 for a comprehensive assessment) and not accessible to everyone. We cover what to know about private assessments in a separate guide.
This post is part of the Lumara guide series for parents. Lumara Screen is an evidence-informed online screening tool for parents concerned about repetitive behaviours, rituals, or routines in their child. Free to complete — full personalised report £7.99.
Ready to understand what you’re seeing? The Lumara screening tool takes around 10 minutes to complete and gives you a personalised report you can share with your GP or specialist. Free to start — full report £7.99.
Ready to understand what you're seeing? The Lumara screening tool takes around 10 minutes and gives you a personalised, evidence-informed report to share with your GP or specialist.
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