Is this a normal wait for CAMHS?

[VashtaNerada]

GP referred us to CAMHS for DD’s depression in August. Since then there have been a couple of phonecalls from them to ask us questions but no interventions or any kind of plan for DD. We email once every few weeks asking for an update or an estimated timescale but emails are never answered. Is this normal? DD’s mental health is deteriorating and I just don’t know what to say to her.

😭 my DD is depressed, anxious, self harming, has an eating disorder and isn't sleeping. GP told me 2 YEAR wait to be seen by Camhs.

Not sure where about you are but. We are in South West & yes actually 5 months would be good you can be waiting for a year. I think it's only getting worse since lockdown has had such an affect on our kids.

Very long waits to be seen in CAHMs

Thanks everyone. What seems strange is that they have contacted us a few times - I was expecting a wait to get into CAMHS but thought once they’d ‘accepted’ us, things would speed up. Obviously not! Poor kids. Yet another public service completely underfunded and unsupported.

It was a 2 year wait back in 2001 when DS1 was referred to CAMHS. And when we got an appointment they were utterly useless.

In the end he got his ASD diagnosis at age 14 via a private referral.

Hi OP, quite often in CAMHS with long waiting lists you might get a check in call on a monthly basis whilst on the waiting list.. they should have explained that when they called though. Hope the wait is not too long.

Thanks @shivermetimbers77 - yes it’s the lack of clarity that I’m finding frustrating. I have absolutely no problem with being told “Your next step is x and there is a waiting list of y”. It’s the vague “yes, we’ll set up a zoom call for her” and then radio silence for the next few months which is driving me bonkers!

I mention them often on here but the Young Minds charity were very helpful when DD was having problems

Thanks @NomadNoMore - we contacted them right at the start and they advised the referral to CAMHS via the GP. I’ll go back and have another look at their website.

18 months+ when DD actually needed it. I ended up paying for counselling privately

Dd was admitted to A and E following a paracetamol overdose in December and was seen by the CAMHS team in hospital. She had a phone assessment two weeks later and then started therapy at the start of January. Seems like that’s very unusual. They suspect ASD as well - so we are going to start the diagnostic process.

Don't pin your hopes on CAMHS. If you do finally get to see them, chances are they'll totally minimise the problem and fob you off. Their favourite trick is to blame everything on parents and render you so utterly demoralised that you never want to return.

@VashtaNerada I eventually booked a session at the Priory in the hope the psychiatrist could recommend a suitable therapist for her. He ended up seeing her every month at great expense but it was worth it. I was lucky that my family helped out.

It was the hardest thing I've ever gone through and she still has some terrible times, but YM at least reassured me that there was nothing else I should be doing.

Best of luck

I’ve found CAMHS good but maybe it is variable depending on area.

This is such a shocking thread.

It's awful that provision is so threadbare. ☹️

I've been told there's a 2 year waiting list in this area.

It's a joke.

CAMHS often has a very long wait for individual support, they sometimes run groups with shorter wait times.
If you can I would look for private provision.

The exception to this is dc in crisis and actively suicidal who often get at least some initial support.

My DS was referred 18 months ago and we still have not heard anything. Fortunately we have funded private treatment and the issue is resolved now in so far as he has had treatment and knows how to manage his problem.

We are on the waiting list too and have been told months. The autism team are at least a year and a half behind with assessments too!

Unfortunately this is normal for CAMHS. Can you afford private?
Or look at alternative agencies. Some local ones do free CBT. Maybe ask the school?

It feels like there is only a crisis provision. We had a referral as DD was suffering with OCD and anxiety but all they offered was a drop in cafe where you might get seen by someone who could talk to DD about it but equally there may only be volunteers there.
That was all they could offer so we paid for 6 weeks private talking therapy which helped but I felt like I was just guessing what to do and we had no clue what we should ask for. Luckily we found a good counsellor who sort of explained what she felt would help.
I do worry though it was just something to get my DD through that bad patch and that she may have something more that will never be properly assessed.
The problem is they leave it with the younger ones and let them flounder around sticking patches over the problem and then come 17/18 they end up in crisis as it’s not being properly managed.

Yes.
DD took 4 months to get help when she was suicidal. She was referred again for depression and self-harm around 2016. She will drop off the top into adult MH care shortly (and I think have to start from the bottom again).

It's awful that provision is so threadbare.

What was more awful was the fact DS was seen in less than two months at the behest of a consultant who decided my DS physical problems were actually psychological and probably caused by me.

By that time DS attended the appointment, he'd had the tests that eventually proved the physical difficulties (thanks to a private consultant) and we were waiting results. After initially stating the problems were probably psychological, they did deign to wait for the results. Which were conclusive. The consultant who stuffed up is now not allowed any way near DS. Or me. Probably for the best.

I have little sympathy for claims they are overworked. If they could see DS that quick, they should be able to see those with genuine need.

SW here - We have waited 18 months for TAMHS and I’m aware CAMHS is approx the same, this is for initial consult.
Community paeds who carry out ASD/ADHD etc assessments the wait is now 3 yrs.
we made the decision to go private and from start to finish the process took 2 months and a positive asd diagnosis. Cost approx £1200, a bit more now as we’re looking into co morbid adhd.

The only reason the OP DD has been seen quicker is because of the self poisoning requiring clinical care at ED, awful that it takes that but sadly it’s crisis management