A national wake-up call is needed on neurodiversity services, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland has said.
The call comes after a Scottish Liberal Democrat debate on Addressing the Inadequate Provision for Neurodevelopmental Conditions, in the Scottish Parliament.
RCPsych in Scotland recently consulted with a number of senior doctors and those who live with neurodiversity to develop a proposal (PDF) that is hoped, if adopted, will improve the lives of those who live with conditions such as autism and ADHD.
The plan includes measures such as a new public health campaign and digital self-help resources and funding put in place for specialist teams and “mental health hubs” across the country.
Each hub would have the capacity to help around 8,000 patients each year – cutting waiting times.
And with each hub estimated to cost between £2.6 - £2.8 million – it is projected it would save the public purse an incredible amount yearly, in comparison to the current spend on unsupported neurodevelopmental conditions.
Speaking after the debate, Dr Jim Crabb, policy lead at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said:
“The demand for support for people with ADHD and autism has soared and without a dedicated service, we’re now at breaking point.
“This is leading to a mental health crisis which includes unsustainable waiting times, delayed care for patients and an overburdened mental health sector.
“Conditions like ADHD are on the rise, but the current mental health system is built to provide help to people with more serious mental illness.
“That’s why we’re calling for a public health campaign and digital self-help resources to raise awareness, so individuals feel empowered and make informed choices - even without a formal diagnosis.
“We’d also like to see funding put in place for specialist teams and to establish mental health hubs across the country, so nobody falls through the cracks.
“This is about fairness, dignity and making sure no one is left behind - but it’s also about protecting our mental health workforce as demand for services continues to increase at an alarming level.
“We need a national wake-up call because without urgent action, the services our patients rely on could collapse, harming both patients and clinicians.
“We’ve spent the last 18 months thinking deeply about this area. We have consulted widely amongst senior doctors and those with live with neurodiversity – developing a plan that spans all of parts of society and that will rapidly make things better.
“We’d urge all politicians and policy makers to adopt our plan so that people can start to get the help they so desperately need.
“Under our plans, we can put help into people’s hands, whether they have yet seen a clinician or not.
“This simple measure would speedily make Scotland a better place for those who experience neurodiversity.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: laura.varney@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Contact Name: Laura Varney, Senior Media Officer (Devolved Nations)
