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Child mental health

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Original poster

Psychiatric assessment for a child?

10 replies

Ssfb · 02/09/2018 21:20

For years now I’ve been trying to get my son help but I’m getting nowhere.
Can you get a private psychiatric assessment done on a nine-year-old?

My son self harms by banging his head on the nearest hard object. He has cut himself once. He will also hit himself with his fist or an object.
He has violent outbursts where he attacks me or his younger brother. The last time he attacked me he even tried to push a fridge freezer on top with me and got hold of a glass bottle to throw at me.
He often talks about wanting to die and has many times held a knife to his throat. When I told professionals that this had happened they told me to lock my knifes away and no other help was forthcoming.
He has run away from home and also when out in new places and I’ve had to call the police to help. I’ve had to call the police on one occasion because of his violence so far.

All these things occur when something happens that he doesn’t think is right. He overreacts in a massive way To things that wouldn’t bother other children.

I am extremely worried for his future and want to get him help now while he is still young. I am waiting to hear back from yet another referral but after being pushed from pillar to post I don’t feel hopeful.

Anyone with any ideas?

OP posts:

Original poster

Ssfb · 06/09/2018 12:23

Anyone?

OP posts:

vikingwoman · 07/09/2018 14:26

I'm so sorry you are going through this. This corner of Mumsnet appears to be very quiet - and I don't think it gets looked at too often. You are a great mum and doing your best. I'm sorry I don't have any practical advice as I am not in the UK.
Do you have a crisis phone number on hand while waiting to hear about the referral? You can also bring your child to the ER if you fear they might hurt themselves.
I hope someone else will come along soon with some help. Take care

Aridane · 07/09/2018 14:34

Maybe transfer to Chat for more traffic?

SM33 · 07/09/2018 14:35

Ask to speak to the SENCO at your child’s school. They should refer you to CAMHS. You can also look at the local offer for you area- type in local offer plus your area and it should bring up services that your borough provide to support children with additional needs.

Ellie1005 · 07/09/2018 14:38

Hi,

So sorry that things are so hard, and that you're still waiting on a referral.

We've had similar from our DS in terms of reactions and behaviors, and at various different stages the following has been helpful for us:

GP, referral to CAMHS, access to CAMHS crisis number if things got really bad
extra support from school when they were told about situation at home
counseling for me to help deal with it all

In terms of getting help, I don't think you can ever ask for too much of it when things are having such an impact at home. So, yes, call in all the support you can get, request a child psychologist/psychiatrist appointment as they are they experts who'll be able to work out what's going on.

Wishing you all the best.

WindowsSmindows · 07/09/2018 14:41

does he struggle in school as well? have they seen this behaviour? does it stop him from getting on at school?

Harleypuppy · 07/09/2018 14:59

If you can afford it go privately as then you can get him seen sooner. Does he have any other underlying issues like autism? The head banging and violence made me think of that. Hide all the knives.

NoTeaNoShadeNoPinkLemonade · 07/09/2018 15:02

I second what SM33 says

Original poster

Ssfb · 07/09/2018 16:45

Thank you for replying. In answer to some questions. Yes they have seen this behaviour at school but to a lesser extent. He has tried to run away from school, they caught him trying to climb the fence, he has been in many fights and he has also attacked me on school grounds but because he behaves in the classroom they don’t see him having much of a problem.

Thank you SM33 I will try that.

He has been referred to CAMHS before but they wouldn’t do anything because they wanted him assessed for autism but the place that did the assessment wouldn’t assess him so I was stuck in the middle with no help.

Thank you for your reply’s I feel so lost with this

OP posts:

OhTheRoses · 08/09/2018 12:47

Yes you can. Ask your GP for a referral to a child and adolescent psychiatrist. You may have to do your own research to find one. Google the CAMHS pzychiatrists in your area; phone the local MH trust for a list and google them to see if they do private work. The other route is via the Priory Hospital network.

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