A little vent.

[Dillyson]

My 14 yr old DS suffers with depression. He has had ups and downs since he was about 9.
He has periods of very low moods. The current low mood has been since Christmas when he self harmed. He has been seen by the GP and referred to CAMHS. He was assessed and has been having counselling.
The counsellor phoned this week to say she was concerned as he had been having suicidal thoughts. Straight back to the GP for an urgent CAMHS re assessment.
I'm worried sick about him but feel that he is being well supported.
I have confided in 2 close friends as I felt I needed a little support. Both have started with the sentence "well he is an only child".
I know he's an only child! I tried very hard to give him a sibling but I had multiple miscarriages and a termination for Edwards syndrome. They both know this, and have succeeded in making me made me feel absolutely shit.

My beautiful clever, witty, articulate boy is so troubled and I can't help him.

The problem is that the only thing on offer for children like the ops and mine is a course of cbt with or without medication. I was told that if cbt doesn't improve things after 5 to 6 sessions then an option is adding in medication. My dd refused medication, didn't get better with cbt and there was nothing else on offer.
Op- I know you're already doing all the right things but watch your ds like a hawk and don't believe him if he downplays stuff to you.

Completely agree with the last poster. DD smiled and told me not to worry the day she took the last overdose. Last being the catalyst for the ADHD diagnosis and journey to recovery.

The absence of clinical and human care is a disgrace. I didn't know the NHS didn't provide adequate MH care for young people until dd needed it. There are thousands of people in the services assessing I triplicate, writing commissioning reports, adding in 8-8 referral centres, etc, but the money isn't being spent on actual care it's being spent on a junior mh industry that receives referrals and then makes excuses for what is available while those who should be providing the services to he's assess, complete tick sheets, arse cover and clock off at 5. They are supposed to be run off their feet. How can this be so when they only work 9-5?

Ohtheroses your putting the fault of this with clinicians- I think you'll find most work well above their hours - the issue is there aren't enough of them.

I'm outing the fault with the NHS overall. The CCGs, the GPs (who should be shouting loudly), the MH Trusts and their Senior management AND the clinicians. Unfortunately it's the clinicians who incorrectly record info, lose contact details, give incorrect information and at our local office seem to arrive after nine and leave before five. There is so much time wasting and inefficiency it begars belief. And the excuses...