'Significant' demand in young people's care

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Jersey worked with almost 2,000 children and young people last year, according to an annual report.

The service said it had seen "a significant and challenging level" of demand, working with 1,949 children in 2024.

Despite this, the report shows Jersey has one of the quickest services, with initial assessments completed within four weeks.

The Minister for Children and Families, Connétable Richard Vibert said CAMHS "continues to be extremely busy and in-demand".

The report also shows the number of referrals decreased from 1,351 in 2023 to 1,145 in 2024.

The service also had an "unprecedented demand" of 1,449 requests for referral for neurodevelopmental assessments over the last two years.

The government gave CAMHS an extra £400,000 to commission private contractors to do some of the assessments.

Mr Vibert added: "I hope, as an island, we continue to work collectively to create an environment where every child and young person feels empowered to seek help, share their experiences, and know they are not alone.

"Together, we will continue to work hard to build a healthier, more resilient future for all."

There are plans to extend the duty service from 08:00 to 20:00 BST seven days a week from April, after a soft launch earlier this year.

A dedicated space for young people who need inpatient mental health support was opened in orchard ward in St Saviour Hospital last year.

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