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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

13 year old DD self harming, tried to commit suicide

32 replies

Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 06:33

At wits end, Camhs no help at all, said her suicide attempt was self harming ( [Edited by MNHQ to remove method] , hospitalised). They have not diagnosed her with anything, never been seen by a psychiatrist or psychologist, only a nurse.DD said she was trying to take her life not just self harm. Has anyone got any advice or been through similar with camhs? TIA

OP posts:
dollophead · 02/09/2021 06:35

You poor thing. No advice, just here to say that's not right and you & your DD deserves better care Sad

Rupertpenrysmistress · 02/09/2021 06:42

Your poor dd, does she talk to you at all?.is it something specific do you think? It's awful CAHMS can't help. Can you get private help? What have your GP said surely they must be able to offer something to a child?

Rupertpenrysmistress · 02/09/2021 06:44

My daughter had help from CAHMS but was related to a bereavement so, due to her age I spoke to the school who organised this. Have you looked at pastoral care on dd's school website. They will likely have some advice?

Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 06:47

Thank you dollophead, it is just heartbreaking. We have two younger dds as well who we are trying to care for and protect from this too. Its so frustrating and scary when the professionals aren't listening. We are talking of going private for assessment and treatment as a last resort when we shouldn't have to but time isn't on our side as dd has said she make sure she succeeds if she tries again and she can't promise she won't.

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Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 06:58

GP referred her to camhs for suicidal thoughts and panic attacks as they can't do anything and only a child psychiatrist can prescribe medication (don't want to go down that route but if it stops her trying to take her life, we will try anything). She saw camhs quickly for first appointment but then it was 4 weeks before next appointment. Inbetween then she self harmed at school so camhs saw her a week early, last Friday. They even said then that she would be discharged shortly but thr following day she tried she tried to take her life. No camhs crisis team at local hospital at weekends. She hasn't even been assessed by a psychiatrist or psychologist, only saw a nurse. School have been great, she has a safe space to go should she have a panic attack. Before she was referred to camhs, she saw a lady from Quarriers who gave her some coping strategies but they just aren't working. Camhs didn't even phone us on Monday after her being hospitalised, I had to phone them and three hours later they phoned back, giving us an appointment for tomorrow but still only seeing this nurse who keeps saying dd will be give strategies to try but here we are 4 weeks later with still no help and dds mental health has deteriorated drastically. Yesterday she drank shampoo and handwash, thankfully not toxic. Pills and razors are locked away in house, corrosive cleaning products locked away outside. She isnt at school this week. I'm concerned she may try and drink hand sanitiser at school as its everywhere due to covid. School are doing their best but cant watch her all the time.

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Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 07:06

Dd had one so called friend who has issues and is not a good influence. Dd let her into house yesterday and dh could here this girl basically laughing at what dd had done and in some words congratulating her, ended with dh camly telling this girl to leave. This girls doesn't want dd to get help and wants her be miserable like her. Told dd this girl is not welcome in house and will be blocked on sm, dd does not have her phone at moment as want her to focus on herself. I allow her to use my phone to message two of her close decent friends who have been very supportive. Dd has been trying podcasts this week, looking for new strategies, she is crying out for help. She said last night she doesn't worry about killing herself and how devastated her family and friends will be as she will be dead. I just felt numb after her saying that, wondering how it got to this. She was such a confident and full of life until about April this year when panic attacks started. I didn't even know about the self harming until her first appointment with camhs. She has showed me scars on tops of her legs and arms, it's just awful Sad

OP posts:
Booknooks · 02/09/2021 07:10

If you're concerned she is an immediate threat to herself, take her to A&E. Unfortunately CAHMS is so short of staff it cannot care for all of those who need it.

Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 07:21

I know to take her to and e if immediate threat but on Saturday she gave no indication she was going to make an attempt on her life. It wasn't until I heard her screaming and found her lying on her bedroom floor that I found out what she had done and had to call 999. So it isn't always obvious she is in distress and when she is, I talk to her, she has all the phone numbers and text numbers too use. But at end of the day, this is no way for a 13 year old to live her life, trying to explain and lie to my 8 year old dd as to why her sister is getting taken away in an ambulance. Luckily my 3 year old dd is too young to ask questions or understand

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Hedgehogface · 02/09/2021 07:21

Absolutely take her to A&E, bring thimgs to read / phone chargers as you may have to wait hours to be seen but it’s the fastest way to get support, a safety plan in place etc. If it’s this bad I would absolutely consider the medication route too. 13 is such a difficult age where hormones have kicked in before the mind is necessarily emotionally ready to cope so lots of support to get her through this difficult patch is so important.
I’m so sorry you are going through this, you must be terrified, but no matter how scared snd upset you are try to stay strong for her snd tell her you WILL get her through this and you will get her the right support even if it’s not immediate.

Hedgehogface · 02/09/2021 07:22

What she is saying snd what you are describing absolutely is enough to take her to A&E

Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 07:23

I know camhs are short of staff and it's cheaper for a nurse to see my daughter than a psychiatrist but sorry I can't put a price on my dds life. If she were 18+ she would be getting alot more help.

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Annoyedandirritated · 02/09/2021 07:26

I would take her to A&E now, it’s definitely an emergency and might speed up getting proper care for her Sad

Restlessinthenorth · 02/09/2021 07:27

OP this sounds like an awful situation, I can't imagine how worried and stressed you are. As a mum, it must be heartbreaking.

In your original post you asked for advice, so I'm going to try share a few things that might be helpful. They definitely aren't criticisms, just maybe some things to help you navigate this situation. I'm a mental health nurse and have worked in a camhs setting, but only for a short time. Others may be able to offer more help based on their experience

The first thing to say is, you are highly, highly unlikely to get a diagnosis of anything for your daughter. It is generally not deemed helpful with young people and often it ends up being a stigmatising badge that young people carry around for years. If you can psychologically drop a diagnosis from your list of wants in this situation, it may be helpful for you.

I know you feel that medication might be a last resort and I see why that might be. Meds are hit and Miss with young people and often really increase risk (suicidal urges can increase). Meds on their own definitely won't fix whatever is going on.

There are a couple of important factors here, the first is trying to understand what is driving these behaviours, and the second is to find effective ways of coping with the distress she is experiencing. She does need coping skills, but there is no one size fits all here. I wonder, have any of the professionals who have offered coping skills taught you any of them? Sometimes the skill is useful but if the young person has become too distressed, they can go passed the point of being able to remember/have motivation to use them effectively. Sometimes having someone to coach the person experiencing distress in applying the skill can be really helpful, and it might also make you feel a little more empowered. I am not sure if they have gone through any of the DBT distress tolerance skills with your daughter, but if not you can find great videos on YouTube of how to do them, often taught by young people who have used them when distressed themselves

It might also help you to know that you aren't being fobbed off with "just a nurse". Mental health nurses are specialists in their own right and make these kind of assessments every day. They should be taking about your daughter in their multidisciplinary team meeting and discussing her care. This nurse won't be working with your daughter in isolation. Having said that, if you feel you aren't been heard, then sometimes documenting your concerns in writing, can be reassuring for you and also reduce likelihood of misunderstandings. I would compose them in an email (as factually as possible) and send them to the team, asking for confirmation that they have been read. It also ensures there is a paper trail of your concerns. The nurse will also have a team manager (likely to be another nurse), who you can ask to speak to to have your concerns heard. If you feel like this still hasn't helped, there will be a formal complaint procedure for the trust which provides the service.

Finally, have you looked at young peoples crisis services in your area? Sometimes there are particular suites on offer during the evening as an alternative to A and E, with crisis professionals on hand. Beyond that. if your daughter isn't feeling safe, take her to A and E. every time. It is a place of safety and sometimes being a repeat attender can trigger heightened care. The other thing to encourage is that when she sees the staff, she shares with them what she is sharing with you. Sometimes young people do say different things and that can impact on the assessment of risk that is made.

Sending you lots of good wishes as you navigate this awful situation. Your daughter is lucky to have you as an advocate

Rupertpenrysmistress · 02/09/2021 07:32

Sadly this is the state of the NHS, they often use nurses first. I know you don't feel you should go private but if you can afford it you have no choice. Are you with your dd all the time? Do you work? Also to say you don't want to go down the medication route, please do don't rule this out, it might make dd more receptive to talking and start to understand the situation she is in, she is still a child. It is devastating to think a 13 year old feels like this.

I am sorry for you all and your DH did the right thing with that so called friend.

Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 07:33

The issue is that the local hospital have no camhs crisis team, only an adult crisis team, no local mental health units for adolescents.dd would be discharged home like like was on Saturday as deemed safe at home. Camhs just aren't listening. There are times when dds mood lifts, music like the beatles is her kind of therapy at moment and she is happy for short while. But her mood can suddenly change. She says she just has this constant feeling of guilt and worry that something bad is going to happen from first thing in the morning but nothing in specific.

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PieMaster · 02/09/2021 07:37

It's absolutely disgusting how underfunded CAHMS are. Your poor daughter and you are being completely let down. I have lifelong MH problems that started as a young teen and found these things helped
Can you do some of the following with her:

  1. Learn deep relaxation (yoga nidra on YouTube for 30 mins a day saved me)
  2. Lots of walking (and then hopefully some talking). And other exercise that she likes.
  3. Some decent food that is low GI
  4. Not too much screen time and monitor closely what she is looking at.
  5. Doing some nice stuff together and not constantly focusing on MH stuff. I remember living very much in the moment and could move on quite quickly. Making it all about that means it gives it too much power and importance. Act a bit like it happened in the past to help move forward but let her know she can always talk to you.
I was really bad at times but the fact she is talking to you is brilliant.
Concernedaboutgranny · 02/09/2021 07:42

If you can afford private help, do it now. The NHS isn't fit for service when it comes to mental health. I'm sorry you're all going through this.

Booknooks · 02/09/2021 07:42

It's absolutely disgusting how underfunded CAHMS are.

To be fair its a shortage of staff that is the main issue, of the appropriately qualified healthcare professionals, rather than just funding. There's zero point throwing more £s at it until some of the underlying issues around training and retention are resolved, that's partly down to funding ie pay, but it's also a very stressful job that doesn't appeal to many people; answers on a postcard what can be done about that.

Of course it's not acceptable or fair, and there are most certainly things the government could and should be doing, but it mainly needs people to want to train and work within these units and the community.

Lostsoul02 · 02/09/2021 07:46

As said before we are looking into private treatment, weekly therapy, as 4 weekly appointments at camhs is no good, they have given her nothing to try so far, only discussed safe spaces at home and school which are in place and told see you in three weeks, never emailed information through they said they would. Only seeing them tomorrow because of her being hospitalised last Saturday. She needs to talk through everything to someone more regularly. She openly talks to me which is great but I'm not a professional or a therapist and I've read everything on the websites, young minds is good. She knows I'm here for her any hour of the day. I only work couple of days a week, school hours so always home in mornings and after school. Dh off sick with stress this week so she is not left alone as did not send her to school this week until I had spoken to them and been seen by camhs. Me and dh can only do so much, we also have to spend time with our other two younger dds who need us too, it's very difficult. My mum passed away suddenly 8 weeks ago which I think has escalated the situation. I'm unable to grieve as I'm so focused on getting dd help

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TwoBlondes · 02/09/2021 07:50

We're ten years on from this and even then had no help from CAMHS. Took her to A and E a couple of times and they couldn't wait to get rid of her, no referral at all. It was only when the police were involved in a suicide attempt and she was blue lighted to hospital that she got an emergency referral to a psychiatrist. He was excellent, but there was no follow up. I eventually got her an assessment at the Priory on the advice of a GP friend, who set scrabbling around for a counsellor was wasting time. She was right.

I also found the Young Minds charity excellent.

DishingOutDone · 02/09/2021 07:50

Been through similar OP so I can cut to the chase: my DD was seen by CAMHS after a 6 month wait and then was under them for over 2 years with them constantly saying it’s anxiety or writing to my GP to say she was “much better”. In the end we got a private diagnosis and used that to get funding for a specialist service for her condition. First of all write to the service manager and ask that your DD see a psychiatrist urgently or if not you will make a formal complaint. Then decide whether or not to go private based on their response. There is a waiting list even for private help now things are so bad for young people.

DishingOutDone · 02/09/2021 07:51

Oh and there’s a good Facebook page called Parenting Mental Health you can get support on there lots of people share their experiences of dealing with CAMHS.

madmumofteens · 02/09/2021 10:24

Oh OP so sorry to hear about your mum and having to cope with your daughter's struggles I was just going to recommend the Fb page parenting mental health loads of support from struggling parents. Please look after yourself too you can't be all things to all people 💐

gamerchick · 02/09/2021 10:53

Why do people always say go to A&E? They won't help. CAMHS are less than useless as well as they just don't have the resource.

Personally I'd take away SM and even internet away completely, I don't think it's good for growing brains to be exposed to constant digital quick information and validation for every teen issue. It overloads them and ends up coming out IRL in distressing ways IMO.

Look at other avenues, resourse for yourself. The best thing I did for my teen was get him involved in activities with other kids actually doing physical stuff. Every kid can develop an interest and work as a team. It gives them a different buzz in a more healthy way.

gamerchick · 02/09/2021 10:54

And seek out support for yourself. It's vital you look after your own mental health to be able to cope long term.

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