Referrals for suicidality to a UK child and adolescent mental health service: an evaluation of the policy and practice context of response to suicidal young people.
4 affiliations
- 1National Health Service (NHS) Tayside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, National Health Service (NHS) Tayside, Perth, United Kingdom.
- 2National Health Service (NHS) Tayside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, National Health Service (NHS) Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom.
- 3Department of Veterinary and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
- 4School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Aims and method
We reviewed referrals mentioning suicidality to a Scottish CAMHS. The referrals were from January to June 2019 and 2022. We recorded the referral reason and outcome and compared these to the National CAMHS Service Specification (2020).Results
Of 2,753 referrals, 560 (20.34%) mentioned suicidality. Of these, 82.4% were accepted. The majority of those rejected were from outside the region, already in the CAMHS, or provided insufficient information. The majority did not include any risk assessment (43.6%) or safety planning (67.7%). We identified lack of clarity in the National CAMHS Service Specification around the requirement for evidence of a serious mental illness and the meaning of "suicidal behaviours".Clinical implications
We require clearer language concerning "rejected referrals", better communication between the CAMHS and referrers, improved pathways for referral re-direction, and support for referrers to assess risk and safety plan. We require clarity in national guidelines over where suicidal young people should be supported.
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BibTeX
@article{moore2026referrals,
title = {{Referrals for suicidality to a UK child and adolescent mental health service: an evaluation of the policy and practice context of response to suicidal young people.}},
author = {Fhionna Moore and Iolanda Salonia and Ayesha Ali and Alissa Mann and Lynne Gilmour},
journal = {Frontiers in psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1863579},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908991},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Referrals for suicidality to a UK child and adolescent mental health service: an evaluation of the policy and practice context of response to suicidal young people.
AU - Fhionna Moore
AU - Iolanda Salonia
AU - Ayesha Ali
AU - Alissa Mann
AU - Lynne Gilmour
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1863579
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908991
AB - Aims and method We reviewed referrals mentioning suicidality to a Scottish CAMHS. The referrals were from January to June 2019 and 2022. We recorded the referral reason and outcome and compared these to the National CAMHS Service Specification (2020).Results Of 2,753 referrals, 560 (20.34%) mentioned suicidality. Of these, 82.4% were accepted. The majority of those rejected were from outside the region, already in the CAMHS, or provided insufficient information. The majority did not include any risk assessment (43.6%) or safety planning (67.7%). We identified lack of clarity in the National CAMHS Service Specification around the requirement for evidence of a serious mental illness and the meaning of "suicidal behaviours".Clinical implications We require clearer language concerning "rejected referrals", better communication between the CAMHS and referrers, improved pathways for referral re-direction, and support for referrers to assess risk and safety plan. We require clarity in national guidelines over where suicidal young people should be supported.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -