Teen Suicide Attempts

[ElleJay123]

Posting on behalf of friends whose 17 year old daughter has just been released from hospital after a sixth attempt to take her own life. She has now been put on a three month waiting list to see a psychiatrist at CAMHS and her last risk assessment with her CAMHS case-worker was cancelled. They have enlisted a private psychiatrist - which they can ill afford - but there's only so much she can do. They are at their wits' end. They need help and need it fast. They're on 24 hour watch. Does ANYBODY have ANY advice on how they can get that help! Or experiences that might help them?

Personally, I find this tragic.

Was she discharged from a general hospital? If so she should have received a mental health assessment prior to discharge, to say she is safe to return home in the community, and a follow-up review at least 7 days later by her local camhs or camhs crisis team. This may vary across the country. I would be on the phone to the local camhs team to see what they are doing, a 3 month wait is not good enough!

Thank you so much. She was allowed to be discharged from a general hospital because she was going straight on to an appointment with the private psychiatrist. That private psychiatrist quickly turned-round a report which was sent to CAMHS. My friends' belief is that the report has not been read, or at least properly read. The follow-up review was cancelled because her case-worker had to take her cat to the vet. They have been on to CAMHS repeatedly as I understand it. They seem to be victims of when 'the system lets you down' but the system should never be allowed to let you down in circumstances like this. They don't need a procedural complaint process - which they've been offered - they need action. I said I'd go online on their behalf to see if anyone out there can advise or help as they have so much to deal with in their real life.

Great to hear she was seen by someone, even if it was a private psychiatrist. They would have at least done a risk assessment and safety plan. It's unfortunate the review with camhs was cancelled, it's not the families fault it was cancelled so this needs to be rearranged. Surely there must be a duty worker or crisis team the family can talk to.