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Abstract

Background
Communication is a key component in successful talking therapies. Furthermore, the association between Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and mental-health problems is well-established and we might expect this group to have increased difficulties accessing services. Despite this, research into potential communication barriers within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is lacking, both generally and for SLCN children specifically.

Aim
This study explored the views of caregivers of children with and without SLCN to identify perceived barriers to accessing CAMHS. Key factors were considered: caregivers’ understanding of the language used by CAMHS; communication strategies used by professionals; and caregiver views of children’s mental health outcomes after accessing CAMHS.

Methods
An online caregiver survey was used to collect views. The survey was completed by 61 caregivers of children who had been referred to CAMHS, for reasons other than communication, 32 of whom cared for a child with SLCN.

Results
Caregivers generally understood the language used with them by CAMHS, although a minority reported difficulties. They were less positive about communication adjustments, discharge processes, and outcomes after accessing CAMHS. Caregivers of children with SLCN were more likely to report that their child’s mental health was poorer after CAMHS. No other differences were found between the SLCN/non-SLCN groups with communication presenting some barriers across both.

Conclusions
All children accessing CAMHS would benefit from increased communication adjustments in order to achieve the most effective intervention.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). Request permissions for this article.
Publisher Keywords:	communication, intervention, mental-health, speech-language-and-communication-needs, child, adolescent, caregiver views, mental health, access
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Allied Health
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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