{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,18]],"date-time":"2026-04-18T21:58:30Z","timestamp":1776549510230,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,3]],"date-time":"2024-10-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1727913600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Institute of Health Research","award":["NIHR203845"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHR203845"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>(1) Background: In the UK, mental health needs for children and young people (CYP) are rising, whilst access to care is declining, particularly in the North of England and post-COVID-19. However, Health Information Technologies (HITs) can simplify access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), reduce waiting times, and provide anonymous support and reliable information. (2) Methods: A single-centre prospective observational study examined the impact of \u201cCYP as One\u201d\u2014a digital referral point to CAMHS\u2014on waiting times and referral rejection rates. (3) Results: Waiting times during the first 12 months of \u201cCYP as One\u201d implementation were compared to the 12 months prior using non-parametric tests. \u201cCYP as One\u201d demonstrated an increase of 1314 referrals, with self-referrals rising by 71%. Initial implementation showed an increase in waiting times by 16.13 days (53.89 days) compared to pre-implementation (37.76 days) (p &lt; 0.001). However, months 10 (M = 16.18, p &lt; 0.001), 11 (M = 17.45, p &lt; 0.001), and 12 (M = 31.45, p &lt; 0.001) implementation showed reduced waiting times. Rejection rates rose due to a 108% increase in referral volume. \u201cCYP as One\u201d improved access and reduced waiting times after the initial phase. (4) Conclusions: Further research is needed to assess its long-term impact and cost-effectiveness, particularly regarding specific mental health conditions and staff time.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph21101318","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,3]],"date-time":"2024-10-03T06:45:52Z","timestamp":1727937952000},"page":"1318","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["The Impact of a Digital Referral Platform to Improve Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: A Prospective Observational Study with Real-World Data"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9163-0013","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rafaela Neiva","family":"Ganga","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Liverpool Business School, Faculty of Business and Law, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L1 2TZ, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-0327-745X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kristof","family":"Santa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK"}]},{"given":"Mustafa","family":"Ali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1859-6036","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Grahame","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.1080\/00048670902970882","article-title":"2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Methods and Key Findings","volume":"43","author":"Slade","year":"2009","journal-title":"Aust. 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