Need to rant about CAMHS

[Clare1971]

It literally took me longer to get an appointment for CAMHS to review DDs meds than the length of the appointment itself. She was prescribed antidepressants back in May, had one follow up appointment in June and has seen no one since. She is at rock bottom, crisis team involved last week, out of school and work, no energy etc etc. I had to phone five times before I got an appointment. Went today. In and out within 10 minutes. Seriously, what is the bloody point?

[Haggisfish]

I know. Much empathy.

[Haggisfish]

Although it is mainly because there is just no funding for teenage mental health. Despicable.

[Innismhor]

That's shocking. It's disgraceful how little is spent on teenage mental health. And exhausting and frustrating for you.

[TheGingerBreadWoman]

It's disgraceful. It's not just teenage mental health it's all children. Even hospitals are not equipped to deal with it all. Very sad state of affairs if we can't look after the mental health of our young people.

[bilbodog]

🍰 sending cake - you need it. Have experienced CAHMS myself on behalf of a 16/17 year old who was suicidal. Very little help. Hope you manage to sort your DD out.

[Clare1971]

Whilst it's a comfort to get sympathy from other people who've had similar experiences, it really is a disgrace that it's so hard to get support. I guess it's a bit of a hidden problem though - until I experienced it myself I had no idea of the state of things. The police and paramedics however - can't fault them. They really have gone above and beyond and haven't said the ridiculous things that some of the CAMHS workers have said. EG: 'you look as if you've lost weight' - what a great thing to say to a teenager with an eating disorder. She might as well have given her a medal.

[Serioussteve]

CAMHs were useless with my DSS.

My daughter waited 8 weeks for an assessment after being seriously assaulted to be told 16 weeks wait. My partner questioned it to be told there was a four week wait for risk of suicide cases.

Funding is in the toilet, but quality of therapy seems inconsistent between centres.