A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses waiting times and referral numbers for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the South West and Perth, focusing on children who have self-harmed or attempted suicide. The response provides data on waiting times, current waiting lists, and referral rates.

AnsweredQoN 2890Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 November 2007
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(2) What is the average waiting time for a child living in the South West, who has self-harmed, to receive an assessment by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following a referral?
(3) What is the average waiting time for a child living in the South West, who has attempted suicide, to receive an assessment by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following a referral?
(4) What is the average waiting time for a child living in Perth to receive an appointment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following a referral?
(5) What is the average waiting time for a child living in Perth, who has self-harmed, to receive an appointment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following a referral?
(6) What is the average waiting time for a child living in Perth, who has attempted suicide, to receive an appointment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following a referral?
(7) How many children are currently on the waiting list for an assessment by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services from:
(a) Bunbury;
(b) the South West; and
(c) Perth?
(8) How many South West children have been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the past:
(a) 5 years;
(b) 2 years; and
(c) 12 months?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
28 November 2007
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
14 days
Note:  Families and children requiring urgent assistance have access to a variety of mental health emergency services. These include 24-hour telephone emergency services (Mental Health Emergency Response Line [MHERL], SouthWest 24, RuralLink), Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and emergency departments.
(1) Waiting times are determined by acuity of illness. Based on 2006/2007 Mental Health Information System data, the median wait time for children in the South West to receive an assessment by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) following a referral is 13 days.
(2) Children living in the South West that are referred to CAMHS for assessment following an incident of self-harm are seen within 24 to 72 hours. Children at acute risk are seen immediately by the Emergency Department.
(3) Children living in the South West that are referred to CAMHS for assessment following an incident of attempted suicide are seen within 24 to 72 hours. Children at acute risk are seen immediately by the Emergency Department.
(4) Waiting times are determined by acuity of illness. Based on 2006/2007 Mental Health Information System data, the median waiting times for children in the following areas were:
(a) North Metropolitan Area Mental Health Service- 21 days
(b) South Metropolitan Area Mental Health Service - 19 days
(c) Child and Adolescent Health Service - 2 days
(5) The average waiting time for a child living in Perth, who has self-harmed, to receive an appointment with CAMHS following a referral ranges from immediate to 48 hours.
(6) The average waiting time for a child living in Perth, who has attempted suicide, to receive an appointment with CAMHS following a referral ranges from immediate to 48 hours.
(7) As at 15 November 2007, the numbers of children currently on the waiting lists for an assessment by CAMHS from the following areas are:
(a) Bunbury - 1.
(b) South West - 1 (includes Bunbury).
(c) Perth - 134
(8) The number of South West children that have been referred to CAMHS in the past:
(a) 5 years - 1,284.
(b) 2 years - 633.
(c) 12 months - 414.
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