When your child demonstrates emerging mental health challenges under the age of 14, you enter a world of “watch and wait”, “it’s your anxiety Mum, not theirs”, “it’s just a phase, have you considered your parenting approach?”, “they’re fine at school”, “don’t worry, they’re reaching expected levels”… And yet. You know your child is struggling. Your Mums instincts are jangling. Things feel off. You’ve already sat back and hoped it was a phase. You’ve tried different parenting techniques, increased social time, decreased social time. You’ve tried everything and you know professional input and support is needed. Everyone agrees. Referral in. You wait. Weeks or months go by. Someone is assigned. They’re great. Things improve. But it’s a time limited intervention. Your child starts unravelling again as they become unsettled the thing they’ve connected with is being withdrawn. The What Ifs consume once more. Sympathetic professionals refer you to another service. With an even longer waiting list. Needs escalate and extend beyond the worst point previously. Now your child is older phase transitions are more significant but you know it’s unlikely to happen. You are witness to a car crash you’re unable to prevent. Again. And so it goes on. Yes. Early intervention. Yes timely appropriate support. But. It must be continuous, appropriate. And available. Can you imagine accessing physiotherapy and being told “you’ve reached your quota, you can’t see us any more”? Access to and discharge from appropriate mental health services is one of the greatest scandals of our time. Our children, young people and families deserve better. They need better.