Camhs have turned down support for my daughter.

[inapickle2300]

My dd15 has been suffering from poor mental health for a few years. She took tablets back a few years ago and was self harming. She had many sessions with Cahms and was signed off as she had improved. Her mental health has taken a nose dive again, she’s been thinking about suicide a lot and has been self harming, cutting herself. She’s been crying to me asking for help. Cahms have said she doesn’t meet the criteria so won’t see her. I haven’t told her, I’m afraid it’ll push her over the edge. They pointed us in the direction of online help websites and apps. What exactly would meet their criteria if self harm and contemplating suicide doesn’t?

[Octavia64]

Many CAMHS have a large volume of referrals.

I have heard that some are prioritising and are only seeing those who have actually attempted suicide.

If you can afford private therapy I would recommend it. A private psychiatrist will also be able to prescribe anti-anxiety/anti depressants.

[Lindy2]

Same for my teen DD. Self harm, suicidal thoughts, emotional based school avoidance, highly anxious but not meeting the criteria for CAMHs support.

[inapickle2300]

It’s awful, the change in her since lockdown is terrible. Her school has actually done away with its school based Elsa support but does have a counsellor who visits so we’ve referred her for that. Children’s mental health seems in crisis.

[clementine20]

Yes we've had the same with my ds, from age 15. He's now 18. We were fobbed off with websites, phone chats etc (which are helpful for low level MH issues) but in the end we had to seek private therapy and a psychiatrist.

I was told by a CAMHs mental health triage nurse that unless they are contemplating taking their own life, they are not priority.

Young Minds and local charities can provide therapy sessions and I heard an NHS radio advert the other day saying that doctors can refer patients for CBT therapy.