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Dd and school - asd and mh issues - what the hell do I do now?

7 replies

RavenRose · 29/04/2014 09:02

It's been 7 weeks since dd(13) attended school. She's currently being assessed for ASD although right at the beginning of the process. She hasn't really had an any appointments relating to the assessment yet after 18 months. I've chased this and been assured by camhs that she's on the list.

She's currently taught in the asd unit at the school, but hasn't been for 7 weeks. She doesn't have a statement. She did have another period of not attending back in November and saw a cpn at camhs. She them was assigned a support worker and sees her every couple of weeks. As well as the potential asd there are also huge issues with her mental health. She doesn't get washed, take care of herself, doesn't see anyone, seems to have pushed away the few friends she had. She rarely gets dressed. She has also talked about hearing voices, visual and auditory disturbances. So to me it's much more than asd.

I have called camhs and our gp several times now and am just at the end of my tether. She hasn't seen the cpn again since November. She's has not seen a physc or such either. The gp just says that she's in the camhs system his hands are tied. I've spoken to camhs several times about the hearing voices and signs of depression. They log the call, pass on the info to the cpn and that's it. They see the support worker appointments as enough but it's not. Nothing else is done. I've spoken to the senco several times but they are waiting for camhs and dd is recorded being absent due to illness. I just feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall. Dd really needs some help. We all do. But no one seems to be listening.

I've tried to talk to her this morning but she hid in the wardrobe. Has anyone got any advice where to go from here. I spoke to camhs yesterday and the call was logged again. The cpn is on leave this week so will see the call report sometime next week. And that's the best they can do. "We don't have any answers" is the response I got when I pushed. Is that what I can expect?

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RavenRose · 29/04/2014 09:23

Sorry, just to add that the voices and visual things are new. She didn't have those when she saw the cpn in November. She has got worse in the last few weeks. I've spoken to camhs about this several times

Any advice would be much appreciated

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mummytime · 29/04/2014 09:28

I can't help much but in your situation I would contact either Young Minds or the NAS helpline and get some advice and support.
She is being failed massively I am so sorry.

RavenRose · 29/04/2014 09:38

Thanks. I called young minds last week and am waiting for a call back from one of the psychotherapists. I'll try the nas people.

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mummytime · 29/04/2014 09:55

Okay my other possibility SOS!SEN they are more legal but will help you fight for help for your DD.

AgnesDiPesto · 29/04/2014 12:25

Sorry no experience. I do know people take their kids to a&e as the only way to see a clinical psych, which is what is needed. Usually that's been after self harm but I would think you could justify taking her for hearing voices etc as risk that could lead on to self harm etc
At the very least they have to assess she is safe to come home and there is an audit trail and usually expect to set up some sort of follow up. Or you just keep taking her back.
Sadly many Camhs services only react to urgent situations and are not proactive, it sounds as though gone beyond remit of cpn.

bochead · 29/04/2014 12:38

If things are really bad you can get her seen within 24 hours by a shrink by taking her to A&E outside your own PCT. Psychosis can be stopped in its tracked if the first episode is caught fast enough in many cases, and it's too serious to ignore. (far more serious than ASD imho).

If you are close enough to physically get there kings college hospital A&E in London is linked to the maudsley which has a centre of excellence clinic for ASD & secondary MH.

A friend of mine only got her son diagnosed by driving him to an out of area A&E in sheer desperation as he was in a right state. It's a last resort when all other avenues have failed only. She wishes she'd done it years before she did as the secondary disorder was pretty serious by the time she took this drastic measure.

RavenRose · 29/04/2014 14:21

Thanks to all of you. Young minds have called back plus NAS have been really good. Hopefully we won't need to take her to a and e as she seems a lot calmer now.

I spoke to a different gp this morning who also signed me off. She is also going to contact camhs and push for a psychiatric assessment. At least the sick note gives me space to help dd without balancing work as well.

I'm a bit more hopeful as young minds and NAS have given some leads to follow. Thank you !

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