What should I be asking for?

[eve34]

My ds is 12. He has asd and adhd

His father left at the beginning of the year. And has generally let ds down repeatedly. Ds has taken this hard. And tried to hang himself may/June time. Went to camhs. No action. At the time he was having Elsa support and play therapy through school. July he was suicidal again. Back to camhs no action.

Summer holidays things settled. Now at secondary school. And has just started Elsa support again. But there is some issues at school and suicidal thoughts are back and he is self harming.

I phoned camhs again. I know he needs professional support. Because of his asd he can get stuck with idea/topic. Because of his adhd he can be impulsive. But I don't know what I should be asking for.

I don't really think medication is the answer. I think he need psychologist/psychiatrist to help him with his thought process. Would that be available?

I know how stretched services are. But I need to know I have done all I can to get him the right help. Thank you.

Write to the ceo and note that CAMHS are assessing a 12 year old with suicidal ideation and are offering no interventions. Note there is a record of this and you will hold the trust responsible if they do not provide support. Copy to your MP. Specifically request a specialist/psycbiatric assessment.

@OhTheRoses thank you for your reply. I was thinking of contacting my mp. Not that it will help ds. But to highlight the needs of camhs. I think we are storing up a whole lot of problems further down the line by not being able to address young peoples mental health issues now.

Where about are you based? Have you searched to see if there are any local crisis centres? I ask because the area my school is in has a Crisis line for urgent MH concerns. Perhaps the SENCO or Child Protection Lead at your son's school can recommend something at a higher tier than CAMHs? So sorry you are both going through this

Our MP did help. The first time CAMHS refused her a service he contacted them and miraculously counselling was then offered. (But in the week it took to arrange we had found a private consultant psychiatrist).

The second time, after a crisis, they offered counselling quickly and then said they hadn't. I wrote persistently for a month. am on 8 August they confirmed in no uncertain terms there woulld be an 8 week wait (after a delay of 4 already) He got back from holiday pm on 8th August and contacted the ceo am on 9th. Miraculously counselling was available from 10th August. They denied it had anything to do with the MP, rather they had reviewed the case.

Oh, after every interraction with them write and confirm what has been agreed, recorded delivery to track. Note that unless you hear back within five working days to say your understanding is not correct you expect things to proceed on the agreed basis.

The system absolutely stinks.