CAMHS

[crazygracieuk]

I self referred ds1 (11 years old y7) to CAMHS today after he got into trouble at school.

A triage nurse is going to see him at school in 2 weeks and then he'll be referred to the correct professional.

Due to the shock, I didn't ask important questions like am I supposed to attend and do I have to chase CAMHs for details of each meeting or do they contact me?

At the moment I'm feeling calm as this is the first time that somebody else thinks that ds1 has problems. His primary school sent a character reference about ds1 that was so completely different to their observations after a month that they called the head as they assumed that it was a mistake.
One last question- how do I stop googling?

Well done for referring him, and I that he will be seen as soon as two weeks.

I've never attended when DS was observed in school, but obviously I was always there when I took him to CAMHs apt's...unless they psychologist asked me to leave the room. I would double check what they expect. I was always given feedback afterwards, never had to chase.

Obviously I don't know what your DS is like.....but my DS was "challenging/willful/determined/had his teacher on her knees" in junior school. Yet didn't speak for the first half term of Y7.

I would say, don't stop googling. I first googled "school refusal" which lead me to realise DS actually had a lot of issues he was dealing with which were resulting in school refusal.

My advise would be to tell CAHMs what you want. (how will you know what you want if you don't google?) I spent years sticking my DS infront of them them and asking "what do you think?" When I finally said "I think DS needs a diagnosis of X" I got one in well under a year.

Start a diary. Note down little things that happen, including those you can recollect, that you mentally question. No doubt in the next few weeks awaiting the CAMH'S meeting you'll have built up quite a few examples of behaviour.

Thanks for the advice.
I think his problems are complex and googling led me to the diagnosis of him being a psychopath. Hmmm...

Writing incidents sounds like a good plan. I have so many questions and my mind is whirring. At least school is in my side - U felt embarrassed crying in front if the teachers but they were really supportive.

Don't feel embarrassed about crying in front of teachers.

I have lost count of the number of times I have cried in front of teachers.

Writing incidents down does sound a good idea.

A young child would not be diagnosed a psychopath (or psychopathic personality disorder, as it is correctly known). personality disorders are only diagnosed in adults as it is felt that the personality of the child is still forming and thus subject to change.
CAMHS may have a different assessment of your son's difficulties, including taking into account parenting and family influences.
I hope he recieves the support that he needs.

Thanks. Having Googled more, I suspect that he has more than one problem- ADD being very likely.
2 weeks until he sees the nurse then up to 14 weeks for the next appointment. I suspect it will be a loooong wait.