Struggling teen - please help

[Whatodowithteen]

Will try to keep this short and to the point, but everything has gone completely tits up over past few days and I don’t know where to turn, DD is nearly 16.

So far -
*CAMHS diagnosed Social Anxiety, got passed off to Healios because they could see her quicker (5 sessions in, daughter hates it and doesn’t do anything to contribute outside of the session so not getting anything from it) The CBT is run from a PowerPoint and the therapist cannot really go off script, I sat through the last session and I can 100% see why she feels it’s a waste of time.
*School also involved and were ones that eventually managed to get the referral through to CAMHS where the doctors failed. Also offered ‘help’ at school but she won’t accept for various reasons. They have a ‘room’ that she spends most of her time in when she is in school. They are very keen to keep her in school but she has lots of anxiety around this and feels like they are trying to get her to integrate too much.

Past few days she has completely lost interest in things that she still found pleasure in, can’t get out of bed, cry’s all the time, clingy, just wants to sleep, no motivation to do anything, suicidal thoughts - to me she is showing signs of depression (speaking only from previous life experience).

Her doctor is fantastic and really supportive, meeting with her early next week for assessment with the view to refer back to CAMHS for alternative treatment as she’s not been in school for last 2 days and I only managed to get her out of the house today by promising I would collect her at lunch.
I mentioned medication to the doctor but apparently the surgery isn’t licensed to offer medication and it would need to be administered through psychiatric care?? Does anyone know if this is a general rule across all doctors surgeries please?

Has anyone tried any alternative treatments not suggested here please?

I’m sure others will have better advice but in the past I found good support (practical & emotional) from the National Association of Therapeutic Parenting. They have a website and groups on Facebook. You need to be a paid member to access the best support and resources but there is some info and help available to the general public. They deal with a wide range of issues and I’ve seen issues similar to what you’ve described being discussed.

Nothing useful to add but just wanted to say I really hope your daughter can get enough support, as soon as possible, and in whatever form that takes.

What a horrible, anxious time you're both going through...it truly sickens me that mental health services continue to be so underfunded that very vulnerable youngsters fail to get the support/interventions they need AT THE TIME.

Sounds like she's at least got a fantastic Mum fighting her corner. Bloody hard that you have to.
(Easier said than done, but please look after yourself, too, amid such a stressful time).

Wish you both well.

If you end up desperate and you are worried she will commit suicide, then don’t rule out A&E for crisis mental health care.
I’m sorry you’re going through this. You sound like a wonderful mum, she does sound depressed and in need of help

Waiting lists for child and adolescent psychiatric care are unbelievably long - it's a wait to get into CAMHS, then months and months to see the CAMHS psychiatrist. There is such a mental health crisis in our young people at the moment that even a private appointment could be a 4-6 week wait. We went private for an assessment, got a private prescription, then the GP was happy to prescribe in line with the recommendation of the private psych (so we don't have to pay). Our GP was fab - no qualms at all about prescribing once under the care of a psych.

My DD15 is clinically depressed - we are keeping her out of school (with support/advice of GP) so that she can work on her mental health, but school was a big trigger for her. We are lucky that school are also supportive and not pushing for attendance. It took a big shift in mindset for us to move from prioritising school to prioritising her mental health, but definitely the best thing we did. Meds are beginning to take effect (a few weeks in) and things are starting to look brighter, but it takes a long time...

My son was given a very low dosage of Sertraline through Cahms.
He said it didn't make him feel any different but l noticed small changes in him, he is now off it and works hard to maintain good mental health such as working out, healthy eating, sleep and being aware of negative thought patterns.
I can understand your situation as l was in it myself and felt at my wits end, as nothing seemed to be working. Stay strong and keep fighting, school anxiety is very complex, not an act of defiance. when
Look on Not fine at School forum,.lots of good advice on there.

My understanding is that GPs generally can't initiate prescription of antidepressants to under 18s. They can prescribe things for anxiety.

DD collapsed at the start of lockdown half way through y10.

When she couldn't return to school for y11, we paid to see a private psychiatrist when wait list for CAMHS was too long, even then there was a 2 month wait. It was ~£300 first appt then £200 thereafter for reviews. After first prescription the GP prescribes on the NHS.

We also did 'Equine Assisted Therapy' which is counselling in a field of horses, which helped leverage DD's love of animals. ~£100 a time (as 2 people).

Now start of y12 she has just started CBT but she had to get to a place where she could cope.

There's also a children's mental health board on MN.

NICE guidelines state antidepressant should only be prescribed following assessment by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and when they are prescribed it should always be alongside therapy, never on their own. The first line antidepressant should be fluoxetine.

If DD is struggling in school have you applied for an EHCP? Seperately to this, if DD can not attend school the LA have a statutory duty to provide education. They should do this when it becomes clear DD will miss 15 days, the 15 days do not need to be consecutive, for ongoing conditions they can be cumulative.

Along the same lines of Teen's suggestion of Equine therapy, art/music/drama therapy are often easier for DC to cope with than traditional CBT.

Apologies for taking so long to come back to this thread, but just want to say thank you so much for all your kind responses, I am going to work my way through them and look at some alternative options, she does actually volunteer working at a stables (and has a lesson today) It’s the only time she looks happy but even today before going there she was in tears because she is so ‘empty’. (This was the first time she’s been upset prior to a horsey day) She absolutely loves animals and she is always cuddling one of our guinea pigs when she is crying, I would honestly buy her a ‘therapy’ type dog if I thought she would be able to take it into school and it would help.