Possible new topic in mental health section....

[lazymumofteenagesons]

There have recently been a lot of threads in teenage topic dealing with mental health and addiction problems.
Anyone feel that a new topic in Health section covering child and adolescent mental health and addiction problems might be useful. If so how do we go about asking for this?

I think that is a good idea.

about to travel this road with DD...yes,good idea

Very good idea. Helping teens is different in so many ways to adults.. and I for one would love to feel there were others out there in the same boat!

I will email mumsnethq and ask about it. Unless anyone knows any other way of getting this set up?

email them....or report this thread as it brings it to their attention?

i've emailed them.

I think there's a place for it but agree with Mary that it might not be seen. There have been lots of posters asking about anxiety medication for instance recently, so a section about teenage mental health would be a really good resource if it was visible.

I think it would be very helpful, I find mental health more for adults (& IME that topic does attract a few controversial posters) & child health seems to be more physical problems. Then I dont feel right bringing a MH issue up in teenagers either

But if it had to belong anywhere already established then I would say teenagers as I would feel comfiest here (I lurk more than post!)

sorry to hijack too but while we are on the topic does anyone know of any specific support networks in RL for parents & families of teens with MH problems?

'young minds' I believe are good. On iPhone so no links .. Sorry!

I got some good info for DS from them, they do seem helpful. Think I am just feeling the need to moan a bit to other parents & have someone tell me how they get their family through it. Hence why I got all excited at the prospect of a teenagers MH topic...perhaps I just need to get out more!

I feel a bit like that about teenager top trumps too maryz, & it's so hard to seperate which parts of DS behaviour are driven by poor mental health & which are just teenage behaviours & which are his personality. Even the DRs can't agree.

Incidently I never noticed any OTT moaning on threads from you anyway :)

Include me too please. WE have CAMHS involvement with possible psychotic episodes (not diagnosed yet) and major problems with keeping a 14yr old girl in education, and many, many days when I'd prefer to have gnawed my own arm off than deal with my child.

Ditto with the suspected psychosis Golly, and the education too although he will be 16 in a few months & hopefully college will be better environment for him. DS is in hospital at the moment for assesment & I really dont know what lies ahead for him.

How are you finding CAMHS?

What is it with us mums & the right arm thing? I ask as only the other morning I was thinking about how people use that phrase lightly but I genuinely would swap my arm for his health & happiness!

ooh, me too - right arm definitely been offered and also gnawed in desperation! So good to know that there are people out there going through the same things and at different stages of the journey - hopefully we can offer and receive advice as we go along. I've certainly found it helpful coming on here (and lurking).

They did reply to my email and said they would think about it. But that is a good point that it might get lost. Do they do 'sticky' threads within a topic, not seen that on mumsnet.

don't know about sticky threads on MN sorry, don't recall seeing any but then again I am not the most observant of MNers. But thank-you for starting this thread anyway as even if nothing comes of it I feel like I have a bit of common ground with people now whereas before I did feel a bit lost amongst the topics if that makes sense.

That sounds like a good idea Maryz, I agree that bumping won't be a problem. My DS has discharge meeting this tues so be ready for long rambling posts from me...sorry but is only fair to forewarn you all!

Have no idea what will happen, I do want him home with support but DS doesn't want to come home...think this is partly because he has been wanted his own place for ages (he is on list for supported accomodation when he is 16, I was eventually ok about this as long as it is near home) & he thinks he will get somewhere sooner if he doesn't come home but partly he says he is angry with me for telling the Camhs team about an incident that happened at home with his younger brother. On top of this he does say he hears voices telling him to harm people including his family (us at home) & he has now told the hospital staff that if he comes home he feels he will "do something" to one of us at home.

I find the meetings really stressful despite some of the staff being very understanding. Last weeks review meeting on the ward was particularly horrendous & I feel as if I am in a constant state of recovering from one incident & preparing for/ dreading the next one.

If that all sounds selfish I don't mean it to be. I know that DS is suffering most of all but it is so frustrating not knowing what to do to help & even though he is pushing me away at the moment I can't let go; he is still not an adult & he is not well...knowing that, it is impossible for me to 'leave him alone' even though he says he doesn't want to see any of his family anymore. I am not imposing myself on him for visits etc but I am not about to stop being a parent either.

Sorry for long rant but it is good to be able to have somewhere to let it out.