Admitted to adolescent unit

[AMBC25]

Hi all
I've been on quite a few times asking for various advice about my DD who has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, possibly emotional disregulation as well.she is currently on Prozac. We have tried so many things and avenues and finally went the private route as it was clear CAmhs were going to do nothing for us. Her Dr has now recommended that she go into an adolescent mental health unit as she feels she needs it and that also she would have a multidisciplinary team to work intensely with her and get her into a routine ( she barely leaves her room and stays awake all night, sleeps all day). Because of the current situation we cannot visit her and she cannot have a couple of nights leave. I have never been away from her for more than 2 nights and then she was with the rest of the family. It makes me so sad that we won't see her for possibly up to 6 weeks. But I'm careful not to let her see that as ultimately I know that this is a good professional place and that it's our best shot at getting her well. I suppose just looking for some perspective from anyone who has gone this route. I know it's self indulgent and negative but I feel so sad and think how did we get here. But will stay positive and hope for the best.

Apologies, no advice to give but wishing all the best to you and your DD. It must be so hard for you, but she is in the right place gettjng the help she needs.

Hopefully if the have her best interest at heart, and she gets on the right tracks with help
Is it a private mh unit or at an nhs psych unit?
I didn’t know paying private gets you access to hospital? So do you have to pay for the time she’s in there ?

They will access her, maybe add something to to meds or even change her over to something different
Hopefully it’s the best thing, I know it seems cruel and she’s on her own but it’s the help she needs

Does she still have a phone
You can text her or maybe even FaceTime her

Hope she gets the right deserved help

What a difficult situation, how is she doing, has she been able to phone you? You must be missing her loads but hopefully she’ll be getting better and it will be worth it once this is all over. Wishing you both all the best.

Our experience was an nhs section to adolescent unit so not sure how it compares really. If she is there voluntarily could you bring her home?

It is voluntary Noeuf. I would bring her home today!! But she is very ill really and I'm praying this will lead to recovery. Did you have a positive experience?

OP, it's bound to be a scary and difficult time for you. If it helps, I won't on an adolescent unit so feel free to ask me anything and I'll answer if I can!

Hi, my dc has a different dx and was sectioned so I don't want to be negative really as everyone is different.

Do you think it's helping? Is it quite intense treatment?

I'm sorry to hear that Noeuf, it breaks my heart to see the other children and what they are suffering from in the unit. Also for their parents.
KubaLeebre, I've read a lot about early intervention, but from when you first realise there is a problem and start to access appropriate help and finally get it a year and a half has passed plus the time where she wasn't telling us and I start thinking we caught it too late. But I try not to do that as if I go down the road of what is I'll end up affecting my own MH. Where she is there is a team and apparently it will be a detailed assessment and care plan, therapy, medication, occupational therapist, social worker, and a lot of activity art, drama etc. They also get them up at a certain time in the morning and a set bedtime to reset poor sleeping patterns and obviously no social media access. I have to stay positive and take one day at a time. As I've said my heart really does go out to other parents going through this.

I’m so sorry to hear his, it’s bad enough being an adult with anxiety/depression and trying to cope with it!
Your bound to feel bad your her mum and have seen what she’s been going through recently, so no wonder your your feeling like you do.
With the right meds and care plan things should begin to look up.
It’s good the get them up and to bed at a set time, rather than just letting them stay in their room and just sit there. Interaction is good if she’s in the right frame off mind, which hopefully she’ll get there with right care.

Is it a priory hospital? As dp niece works as a nurse at a big one in Cheshire, she’s now at an nhs hospital.
You say no social media, so can you not text/speak to her by mobile?
Obviously at moment no visitors, so how long as she been in this hospital for now on the Prozac ? Have they sent you copies of her care plan, what type of therapy she’s having?
Don’t be scared of asking questions and make sure your getting value for your money as it’s so expensive per day in private.

She will get there, it’s just the waiting unfortunately that’s the worse part and each med change is another 6-10 weeks waiting game if the first one doesn’t work. Which most times it doesn’t, but some are very lucky 🍀 it’s it works for them.

Do keep us posted on any updates, or help we could supply as there’s many on mumsnet that have been through it ourselves or in family

Good luck with it all. I'm going to bow out as the health professionals posting have a very different perspective. I wish you and your daughter every success.

Thanks Granadagirl, she has just gone in and the first week is assessment, we can't visit which is a killer but we can talk by phone, block phone. They told me the average stay is 4 to 6 weeks but because of lockdown they will try to make it around 3.they will let us know after a multidisciplinary meeting next week of the care plan and discharge date. Saying that she told me that a lot of the other kids have been in there for about 11 weeks. I know they will decide what is best for her but I would really struggle with that long or longer for her . I also suddenly feel panicked that I wouldn't be able to take her out if I decided, although the doctor who referred her said if she didn't like it she could come home.

Thank you again Noeuf, best of luck to you

@AMBC25 it is absolutely not too late. We very routinely have young people leave us in much better shape than they came, and often they will only need one admission. The fact that they are thinking of a three week admission is extremely positive.

Just an update: so we haven't found out yet how long she will be in for. They had a team meeting today but I was told that the consultant psychiatrist wants to wait and talk to me tomorrow after she has done her rounds and spoken to DD again. Dd has settled there and likes the other kids, seems to have fun and is interacting well. However on two separate nights, she had 'meltdowns' and tore the place apart trying to do d something to end her life with. For the first time she opened up more and told me that she did it there because she didn't want me to find her if she did it at home. She told the Dr and I rang them too to relay this so I suspect she will be in there a while longer than 3 weeks. Today I feel v depressed myself, the road ahead seems too big, I think maybe I didn't think she was so actively suicidal. On top of that I miss her so much. I'm also terrified that we won't be able to stop this all. I know I'm being so catastrophic and negative, I just feel so worn out and sad that my child is like this, I feel overwhelmed by trying to be strong for her, her siblings, my elderly parent during covid and the task ahead when she comes home, to stop her from slipping into old patterns. Apologies for making it about me. As they say, tomorrow is another day

Saw this pop up in TIO.

Hang in there. Read as much as you can from reliable sources about admission etc. Mental Health Act code of practice has some stuff on voluntary patients.

It won't be like this forever. Keep calm, educated and kind.

Thanks so much Noeuf. I think that was the problem for me today , I went down a path where I thought this will go on forever with only a disastrous outcome so I need to get that in check and have hope. They genuinely seem good there . She is starting psychology and OT sessions in the next few days. Ultimately she is safe there and getting help she badly needs

Look our experience was awful and it was the wrong place for our son so I'm a bit twitchy about giving advice!

But, for other young people it is a positive experience and remember (I read this on a different site by a psychiatrist) they aren't trying to fix her and send her back cured, they are starting her off on the right meds, the right therapy and with a better understanding of her condition.

I would make sure you build a good relationship with her team, ask questions politely and raise any worries with them before they get too big

We had good communications with the staff even if it wasn't right for him.

I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter, you and the rest of your family are going through this. I hope things improve soon.

I know you already know this but please try and look after yourself. Have you had any therapy yourself? You need to be as well and as together as possible so that you can support her. (I KNOW you know this already😌)

You've literally done everything you can to get her admitted.

Best of luck for you all.

How is your daughter doing, OP? I’ve been reading your thread and just wanted to let you know that your family are in my thoughts and prayers.