Teenage depression. Please help.

[Mrsdave76]

My second daughter is 13 years old. She has come to me recently saying that she thinks she has depression. She shows all the signs. She's very withdrawn, spends all of her time in her room in her onesie, only comes down to eat (which isn't much) says she hasn't got many friends at school. And is quite teary. I've asked if she is being bullied and she said not at all. I have rang the school and spoken to a lovely teacher who was very helpful and offered to help my daughter by talking to her and trying to get her into some of the schools clubs to get her interested in something and help her make more friends. Alas she doesn't want to join any of the schools clubs. I know she has several friends as she came home with presents off them at Christmas.
I have suggested lots of different clubs that she could maybe join to get her out and maybe find an interest in. But all she wants to do is read.
I would take her to our doctor but it is fair to say that he is a complete waste of time (going by past experience with him) so we wouldn't get anywhere down that route. My daughter has said that she would like to get a professional diagnosis but as we would get nowhere with our doctor I don't know how else to go about it.
Any help with this matter would be much appreciated. I just want to see my girl smile again.
Thanks, a worried mum xx

Have a look at a website called young minds. It's really helpful.

A gp can only refer to Camhs anyway so give it a go?
Agree young minds are good.

Can I get in touch with cahms direct or do I need a gp referral?

A huge hug for you. I have a teen who is suffering from anxiety and it is so upsetting. I'm not in the UK so I'm not certain of the practicalities, but from what I have read here your dd needs a referral to CAMHS. Even if you have to be really demanding with your GP, a referral is what your dd needs and it will be a big boost for her to know that you are on her side and will fight for whatever help she needs.

Good luck

You need a gp referral, you can't refer directly unfortunately.
Sadly I have plenty of experience of Camhs so pm me if you want to chat!

Thank you so much for all your help. I think my first port of call will be to first thing in the morning change doctors. She needs much better than what she is getting from our gp. I'll go and tell her what the plan of action is. Xxx

You could get a referral to a community paediatrician via the school nurse and the paed could refer to CAMHS.

TBH you should be letting the school nurse know anyway and asking for advice about what support your DD could get in school. The teacher may not know everything available.

You are likely to have a long wait for a CAMHS appt. Six months or more in some areas.

That's true, a lot of schools have a counsellor too.

My 15yo DS has been going through exactly the same thing. Fortunately we do have an understanding GP, however we have not gone for a Camhs referral, instead she recommended we self refer to a local charity who specialise in counselling teens, they are also linked to his secondary school ( who were also very supportive and put in a referral as well). They have a 12-16 week waiting list and we referred 8 weeks ago.
I do think it's important your daughters GP knows, so do change GPs if necessary.
Also, as others have said, speak to the school about any support they can offer.