Feedback on Worcestershire's CAMHS Service by Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum (WPCF)

Immersion Therapy for Phobias

2024-12-10 09:42:59 UTC

Immersion therapy is known to be damaging for autistics, yet CAMHS still subject our young people to it.

Too long

2024-12-10 21:34:22 UTC

We were triaged in 2 months, but then we're now in the 18-month queue. At what point does a child become a priority? Because repeated suicide attempts doesn't seem to qualify.

Hit a wall

balllisa1980 — 2024-12-11 13:05:33 UTC

Was instantly rejected as symptoms were "a consequence of Autism" and advised to chase a specialist educational provision who will help him.

Chaos

balllisa1980 — 2024-12-11 13:07:16 UTC

Uncertainty, anxiety, lack of support and lack of direction for help. Family subject to the anxiety, inability to go out etc and sibling also dealing with anxiety that this causes.

Refused

2024-12-11 20:21:17 UTC

My son who at the time was only 4 years old, desperately needed intervention after being permanently excluded from school, he was consistently referred to cahms by many different professionals, and was rejected every single time. 3 years later and many many referrals later we are still rejected. I even had his paediatrician say “he desperately needs to see a psychiatrist, but I can’t refer to one” that says it all! A system that is broken and does not work! Our children need help too!

2024-12-12 07:13:22 UTC

Suicidal child refused by camhs.

Non-existent support

2024-12-12 07:23:37 UTC

Child is autistic, ADHD, SPD and probably Dyspraxic. She was referred to camhs by GP on urgent referral because of self-harm and suicidal ideation in May following attendance to A&E for Self-harm injuries. We are still waiting.

I rang the crisis team recently because her mental worsened and they had a panel meeting and decided she could didn't require expediting. It took them 2 days to come back to me.

It is soul destroying. It also reinforced the idea in my child's head that to the outside world her needs don't matter. She is constantly giving the message that everybody else's needs are more important than hers.

Refused

2024-12-12 07:46:35 UTC

We had been accepted to cahms; the process got started, had meetings; social services got involved, then they stopped it due to home environment could be impacting our children's wellbeing. By the time investigations took place, I will cleared, she was now 5 and unable to be accepted due to age.

2024-12-12 07:49:03 UTC

Been referred 5 times in total, 2 refusals and 3 seperate emergency referrals from GP, school and paediatrician. 1st one (year 3) they said they thought my child was neurodivergent and would refer to Umbrella Pathway and be put on wait list for further support. Id rang multiple times asking where they were on the list, I emailed at around 18 months to ask again to eventually be told after he had been discharged immediately after Umbrella referral. I had no paperwork at all from them. I did get an apology. 2nd time child was a school referral straight after finding out they'd been discharged as child was in crisis again and emhp had said child was 'too complex' to work with as only support 'low level' needs. Senco was advised to do camhs cast referal. I had a video call with a mental health practitioner and senco. The woman was horrendous. Said other kids she knows were throwing themselves out of windows and my child was being kept safe by myself and he was lucky to have me as a mum, plus they are autistic whilst smiling! Sencos mouth dropped open in shock, I was so angry saying is this some kind of competition to you, which kid self harms the most! You speak like it's a badge of honor while those kids you know are obviously being let down by a service meant to help them. Both senco and I complained. Mhp called me saying it's sensory! Complained again and child had 8 sessions with a mhp (who was lovely) ........all they spoke about really were topics of interest to my child. Just as child got comfortable enough to maybe open up, was discharged as only allocated 6 sessions and they'd had 8. Current scenario, child unable to attend school, in burnout, very depressed and anxious, in burnout, not eating, sleeping, zero energy, in bed, unable to leave home. Paeds did referral and had a call in 3 days with an choice appointment. Paeds said anxiety can be part of being autistic but not the very low mood etc. Child unable to speak in appt, mhp was OK but not exactly warm but listened. Said about them not being able to engage, I said they will if they have consistent sessions and someone takes the time to get to know them. She said sessions would start with talking about sleep hygiene etc even though I'd said they'd never slept through and had melatonin to help and most likely did or previously did all they would advise about sleep anyway. She said we don't give out sleep medication, I said I didn't ask you too! My child is depressed and has been for years and needs intervention. She said it would go to a panel to decide if partnership work was to take place. I recieved a letter saying they had decided to do some partnership work and I would hear about an appointment when they have someone available to work with them.......that was 6 months ago. Child has left the house only 4 times since Feb and one of those times was the Camhs choice appointment! Very obvious to myself and others child is depressed and has anxiety and has done for MANY years without proper support. Child says feels unhelpable and this is how life is going to be for them as nobody can help them or they would be helping (talking about CAMHS). Totally let down by those who should be supporting them. If this were an adult, a quick gp appointment and medication and possibly counselling services would be given and they would hopefully feel much better by now. But our kids are left to suffer for years. These kids are the adults of tomorrow, why are they nothelping them now so that they can have brighter futures in adulthood. Early intervention is key, everybody knows this, except camhs it seems! If only they were fully funded by the government, what a difference it would make!

Repeatedly diverted to the WEST Team

2024-12-12 07:49:40 UTC

My 15 year old daughter is now on the Umbrella Pathway after a Speech and Language therapist at her high school took the time to truly investigate what was going on for my teen. Prior to this, my daughter had been referred to CAMHS three times from the age of 12 and with minimal assessment was told she had anxiety/OCD. At one point she was put into an online group session with children younger than her where she was told she had to show at least part of her face. When I told them the group wasn’t appropriate in many ways, she was discharged and told she had to start a new referral to get any further support. The lack of training/knowledge within CAMHS around autism, particularly in teenage girls, simply seems absurd. My daughter’s presentations should have been picked up as autism and she would have received the help and understanding she desperately needs years sooner. Even her most recent CAMHS WEST worker, upon being told an autism referral had been made said “oh I did wonder if it could be autism”. Obviously no training or experience on what to do with that ‘hunch’. We feel let down as a family as the past 3 years of struggle could have been significantly lessened.

Heartbreaking

2024-12-12 08:30:41 UTC

This is also pretty gut wrenching from the inside. Being a clinician who trained specifically to help people, particularly children, in distress, and then working somewhere with inadequate resources to provide the help and support we can see people DESPERATELY need - it chips away at you. We spend so much time fighting fires because people are at crisis point by the time they get to us. It’s not cost or time effective let alone the emotional impact on families and clinicians.

4 yr old

2024-12-12 09:31:32 UTC

My 4 yr old was really struggling, we had to take all the mirrors down in the house as she would get stuck at them saying she hated her hair, her body, the way she looked, that she didn't want to be alive anymore. Ripping at her clothes. She would be violent and destructive. We tried to access support and our GPs told us there was no support available, with no knowledge of any CAMHS support at that age, and that we'd have to go private. She's now at school but unable to attend and we've finally got a CAMHS referral but no acknowledgement or response.

2024-12-12 09:55:31 UTC

I have 2 experiences.

My diagnosed ND son, self harming, suicidal thoughts and attempts, who also was really struggling with traumatic stress was refused access multiple times. Constantly being told the autism team needed to deal with him, and the autism team constantly saying he needs to go to camhs. Never received and help or support from either.

Experience 2.

2024-12-12 10:10:18 UTC

My daughter, around year 7/8 at the time, was struggling massively with what was proposed as possible OCD, possibly triggered by anxiety and bullying. She could not function on a day to day basis.

She was eventually seen by CAMHs, they asked if she would be more comfortable with a male or female. She said female but was placed with a male. She made it clear that she found it hard to trust and open up to men after her experiences with dad and step dad making promises and leaving with little contact. This Male proceeded to promise he would not give up on her and he would help her feel better again and prove there are good men out there that she can trust won’t always let her down.

3 sessions later, we had a phone call that he had been offered a new higher position job and would no longer have time for my daughter and she would be placed back on the waiting list for another to pick up her case. Shortly after, Covid arrived and we went into lock down. We had no contact, help or advice during this time. When lock down was lifted I made contact again to get the ball rolling again to be told so much time had passed, she had been taken off the waiting list and would have to be re referred and would have to start the process from the start.

My daughter lost all hope and belief that anyone would ever support her, she no longer wanted to attempt to try again to get support. She continues to manage her anxiety and OCD tendencies (which increase with high anxiety) by herself with only support by her family and small group of friends.

Every referral we get by school ,GP other health professionals we get a reply from CAMHS saying your we have been referred to CAMHS . times now and finally been accepted on waiting list but told they have no idea when we will assessed and seen..

2024-12-12 12:06:05 UTC

This what we wer told 8times in the past until our xhild presnt educational setting referred us and told them yes the child has ASD doesnt mean he doesnt have MH or other health issues .. but this is what they always fired back at us..Child is Autistic we cannot help them as Autism is not a MH issue..no it isn't but it MH presents due to lack of capability to process everyday life ...

Let down & misinformed

2024-12-12 12:45:09 UTC

March 2022 myself & the school completed a questionnaire for the umbrella pathway for Autism. I personally handed delivered these questionnaires to the Droitwich office to ensure safe receipt.

We needed the pediatrician to complete their report. Due to the long delays within the NHS we didn't think anymore.

During our next appointment on November 2023 (which was delayed) with our pediatrician completed their questionnaire there & then with us. They had not completed their step which left us with a 20 month delay.

It was noted that both our parental & school reports were now out of date by 2 years so we both completed ours again (June 2024).

Umbrella pathway requested a speech & language visit in October 2024 child was visited in school, completed her report she rang me to discuss her findings & I have received a copy via post. They stated he will now be up for diagnostic discussion, this was also written in her report.

November i rang umbrella pathway to find out when this is likely to be. They advised I have been given incorrect info that he now needs to be seen by a clinician which is upto a 2 year wait.

I am at a total loss, we are totally blind as to the correct procedure & being misinformed so how do we know what is the correct process. Had I not of rang I would yet again be none the wiser.

Due to the delays in our pediatrician not completing their report by 20 months it seems extremely unfair for us to have to complete all of these questionnaires again, for child to be seen by speech & language to then wait another further 2 years for a clinician appointment.

We are pro active parents that try our best for our child accepting any support given to us. Over the years I have travelled weekly to out of area to Bromsgrove for intense speech & language support due to Worcester not having availability, we are doing an online workshop for CBT to help with childs anxiety. We aren't pushy people therefore when there is a huge wait we understand the pressures on the NHS. However we have been let down by system in place & misinformed.

No understanding of neurodivergent CYP.

2024-12-12 13:26:57 UTC

The choice assessment had a very clinical feeling to it. Very little warmth shown and definitely not neuroaffirming or child led. We were bamboozled with words initially and a safety plan given within a few minutes which was inappropriate. Anything I mentioned that was happening for my child like autistic burnout, traumatic or masking etc was written in the paperwork with 'xxxxx' around it eg 'burnout'. It felt as though the autistic experience was not understood or taken into account and they seems to ask questions or make in a way so they could deny further support eg they seem unable to engage, or wants parent support and we work with young people individually. My child wanted me in the room and the MHP didnt really like that fact. From what I gather they only seem to do CBT which is inappropriate for many neurodivergent people also.

2024-12-12 14:45:52 UTC

"He's in crisis because he's autistic." Yes, we know he's in autistic burnout and at crisis point as a result. Throw in the A word and then that's it they don't want to know!

Waste of time

2024-12-12 14:46:06 UTC

We did self referral and were offered online group sessions only. Daughter did attempt them but did not enjoy the experience as hates online group activities anyway. She did not get anything from it. Frankly, I saw it as a box ticking exercise as are most NHS protocols.

Devastating

2024-12-12 15:43:22 UTC

The impact on both my husband and my mental health has been significant. We ended up having marriage counselling.

We had to pay for all assessments privately and currently also pay for private counselling for child.

I am unable to work to my full potential because I'm constantly picking up pieces, driving to appointments or having to fire fight. Even when I'm not doing those things I'm on constant alert.

Diagnosed son without meeting him

2024-12-12 17:15:13 UTC

My son was referred by school nurse as his mental health had been declining. He had tried to self harm at home and had thoughts of suicide. GP has diagnosed OCD and the paediatric physiatrist asked us to also refer for AuADHD. CAMHS discharged him without ever meeting him and said he does not have OCD. They referred us to a charity support group that in months time after the letter he would be too old to attend.

2024-12-12 17:57:10 UTC

Referral refused until serious suicide attempt

ASD and extreme anxiety

2024-12-12 17:58:45 UTC

The GP was reluctant to refer. When she did it was flagged as urgent. We were seen within 2 weeks but then told he did not have a mental health issues - isn't that what anxiety is? Also recommendations were inaccurate based on our info and pretty rubbish!

CAMHS - Cant Actually Manage Hardly Shit

2024-12-12 17:59:18 UTC

My daughter was referred a few times and each time was told CAMHS can't help and her symptoms were due to autism so there was nothing they could do. She was self harming at the time but that passed after removing the stressor from her life (Sen placement with abusive peers). Now she is an adult, has no qualifications because she has been unable to successfully access education as she has had no support. The only support coming from a parent who is so broken she is unable to work and disabled herself. Thanks for nothing CAMHS.

My son had adhd and Asd and was referred to Cahms after trying to kill himself when he was 7 , he had lots of suicidal thoughts.

2024-12-12 18:01:45 UTC

It took nearly 12 months to be seen and the whole experience was horrendous, then clinician we saw was the most degrading man I’ve ever met.

Refused twice

2024-12-12 18:05:56 UTC

Attempted to get support twice from camhs via referral from the doctors, both times just received a letter of refusal with reasoning it's autistic behaviour even when he was having suidical thoughts.

We eventually had camps West via school. That was a waste of time, I'm not even sure they had training in asd. Didn't even complete the session as son was so uncomfortable with her.

Accepted and rushed through

2024-12-12 18:42:17 UTC

I know we must be in the minority, but my ASD diagnosed daughter quickly received a Choice appointment and was immediately accepted for 1:1. Things deteriorated and she was rushed through as an emergency and seen within a week. She’s been seeing her worker every fortnight since Spring this year, recommended for CBT in the future and referred to psychiatry. Her psychiatry appointment also came through within a month and she’s meeting early January with continued input from CAMHS.

Not severe enough

2024-12-12 18:49:40 UTC

My child was rejected twice because their depression and anxiety was not ‘severe enough’ and ‘due to their autism’ in Camhs opinion, despite my child hardly eating, crying constantly, feeling sick constantly and having no interest in anything because they feel there is no point. They are isolated from peers because they are too anxious to interact with anyone….this is not acceptable. Our paediatrician agrees they need help but they say it has to come from camhs! An absolute joke!!

Refused due to autism diagnosis

2024-12-12 19:42:19 UTC

We were immediately told out son didn't qualify for support due his autism diagnosis. He now has privately funded psychiatrist through his EHCP after we originally paid for it ourselves. Why a diagnosis prevents you accessing support I will never understand.

Nope!

2024-12-12 19:43:23 UTC

Obviously they don't need to understand it as they don't take referrals for those with autism!!!!!!

Nope!

2024-12-12 19:44:30 UTC

Advised diagnosis of autism meant he wasn't eligible. Funded privately and then following tribunal for EHCP got costs covered through EHCP.

4 years plus in total

2024-12-13 01:45:21 UTC

First referral by GP 5 years ago was rejected, second also rejected, no reasons given. Various professionals involved, anxiety got so bad 3 years ago couldn't attend school, could barely leave bedroom. Referral made again by GP, various traumas happened, chased by GP and SS and adult mh team. Finally assessed September 2023, told yes, they need to help. Finally seen December 2024. Exams missed, massive chunk of life missed, can't go to college, lost the only 2 friends they had, anxiety and depression 20x worse due to the insanely long wait and lack of support. Implication now is that they'll only give 6-8 sessions with psychologist and if still needing support, re-refer!! Child is 16 now so will end up stuck and having to start again with adult system which is just as bad, if not worse! No wonder so many are attempting suicide. The system is ridiculous.

Not at all

2024-12-13 01:47:46 UTC

Situation worsened considerably during the insanely long wait with zero updates or support. At one point received a letter asking if they still need an appointment!! Yes!! Of course they do! They're getting worse and developing depression on top of the original issues because nobody cares and nobody will help them!

Disastrous

2024-12-13 01:52:12 UTC

Husband had attempted suicide multiple times, lost job, is now drinking and am fighting for support for him too as also impossible to get support for adults. As a mother, I've considered suicide multiple times. Professionals and SS ask, "What support do you have?" 🤣 ha!! There is no support! We have to deal with this to the detriment of our own health. I have no social life left, I'm so unwell from the stress and lack of sleep being on suicide watch for either child or husband, it's only due to the epic kindness of someone who paid for private therapist to support me that I'm still here. We'd all be dead if it wasn't for her.

Impact on other services

2024-12-13 01:57:00 UTC

The government is moaning about people claiming benefits for mh reasons too much, people unable to work because of mh, attendance figures too low in education, too many kids being home educated - THIS IS WHY!!! The complete lack of mental health care (and let's face it, physical health care isn't exactly great right now, especially in Worcestershire) means people are getting worse, and worse, whilst on waiting lists or whilst constantly being rejected, then what could have been 6 weeks of therapy to support them becomes 200x worse and requires ongoing intensive therapy, 5 different meds, support for the rest of the family etc. Prompt mental health support would make a huge difference to benefits and school attendance figures. We have no choice at the moment. We are literally dying because of the lack of mh support.

None existent

2024-12-13 08:01:26 UTC

CAMHS have refused to see my son multiple times. Despite a private psychiatrist (who works for them during the day) making numerous referrals. We have just paid for a private assessment and had a diagnosis of ASD, ADHD, PDA, anxiety and everything else that comes with. We only now would probably meet the threshold and face a 3+ year wait for help.

We have had no support that we haven’t paid for. From my personal and professional experience you only get help when the whole family is at breaking point and the negative pattern of behaviour is so engrained it can’t be reversed. There is no support available which will prevent a child spiralling out of control.

We are lucky we have managed to finance support and had the understanding of the conditions my son has to be able to recognise that his behaviour are not just “naughtiness”. The whole system is broken and if it doesn’t get better we will have a generation of very damaged children unable to reach their potential due to being forced to fit into a system that will never meet their needs.

It makes me so sad 😢

Happy to discuss further if that helps

Distressed and disappointed

2024-12-13 08:01:47 UTC

It makes me so sad 😢

Happy to discuss further if that helps

2024-12-13 23:17:52 UTC

My 11

Year old daughter struggles with severe anxiety around food and whether it will kill her

Or make her poorly, also many other anxieties and control of food. In her assessment for small

Group interventions for CAHMS the assessor was so lovely and so good with Emilie

That I decided to mention that I thought she was autistic and had been referred

But not Accepted on the umbrella pathway ( and when accepted could be a 5 year wait)

I told the assessor that I didn’t really

Want To mention autism as I had heard before that others had been declined for support for anxiety for this reason. The assessor said that they do provide anxiety group work for those with autism, however, we

Got the letter back stating due to more complex issues that my daughter was not suitable for cognitive therapy or similar emotional or anxiety work. We

Are

Left with not knowing how to help her .

Positive experience

2024-12-14 08:18:48 UTC

It seems we are in the minority but we have had a positive experience. Except for long waiting times which has exacerbated and prolonged symptoms, CAMHS have been very supportive and seen my child on two separate pathways when waiting list times allowed. During the waiting list time if I phoned the team I received a call back with often 1 hr of time given up to talk, problem solve and have some reassurance which we're invaluable during the wait period. The system seems broken but the individuals we have seen appear to be doing their very best within the constraints of resources and pathway limitations.

Discharged very quickly

2024-12-15 15:36:29 UTC

One 6 week online course for undiagnosed child. Attended every session. Accidentally missed the catch up one where I wanted to ask what was next as hadn't worked by one day, didn't click the link in time as was during school holidays and very busy with work and 2 nd children. Emailed the next day asking if I could still attend and why I hadn't clicked the link in time and got a very short you have been discharged. Literally no room for error on parents part, crazy!

Still waiting

2024-12-15 15:41:42 UTC

Requested support back in summer for asd child. Paediatrician wanted a rereferal which is obviously a waste of time as already diagnosed. Gp suggested camhs. Camhs offered support through school which is obviously a long waiting list. Been sending to a private physciatrist paid for by ourselves while waiting but will have to stop as going against attendance despite being okd by senco. Frustrating

Hopeless

2024-12-15 22:40:51 UTC

My daughter was repeatedly told by camhs mental health workers that because she is autistic they could not help , we had a few sessions they were never regular sometimes there were gaps of months. We were told medication would not help again because she is autistic. They discharged her at 18 ,they told us there would be no transition to adult services. We have been left in limbo for 15 months .

Referral of ND child

2024-12-17 01:42:04 UTC

GP put in referral to CAMHS. Did agree to an online assessment initially as son unable to get to clinic. Very hard to contact anyone to get the online link as no one on switchboard seemed to know any numbers for CAMHS secretaries.

2 nurses did come to assess at home. Said they could definitely not continue to see at home but could offer support in clinic. I said that I wouldn’t be able to get to clinic. So they then wrote a letter saying he didn’t meet criteria and didn’t need them. I pointed out that this wasn’t what they said verbally, and couldn’t they be honest about him meeting criteria but they haven’t got the appropriate service to offer. Response was that he could be re-referred. So frustrating

Rejected

2025-01-02 22:59:32 UTC

My son was referred 6 times by different professionals involved in my child's life...evey referral i was told he has Autism we don't work with children with autism as they have that diagnosis..7th time referred by his newish educational setting and they have accepted him but to be told the waiting list is as long as a piece of string.. mean while is his mental health gets worse please ring 111 where they will directyou to community mental health team or 999... I thought early intervention is what is best..not keep fobbing us off..

Continuously turned away

2025-01-03 09:16:50 UTC

My son was referred multiple times (by me, by school, by the paediatrician and finally by the GP). All but the final referral were met by "this isn't the right service for you" and accompanied by signposting to autism websites.

We have now been accepted for an assessment but have no idea how long we'll have to wait. I'm sceptical about the assessment process as autism itself makes my son struggle with communication and so unless the staff are trained in autism they are unlikely to get much information from him.

2025-01-03 09:37:35 UTC

Radio usually on in reception and too loud. Reception generally not considerate of potential sensory overwhelm. Positive quotes on wall- “today is going to be a good day”, “dream big”, “make your own magic” are ill-judged and offensive when waiting for an appointment with a suicidal child.

2025-01-03 13:40:40 UTC

Two CAMHS workers turned up at my daughters school with no consent - very weird as we hadn’t even attempted to access the service as decided it ld too traumatic and much safer, more supportive to access private consultants.

When I tried to complain I was as left on hold as they obviously didn’t want to deal with it! I did put a complaint in only to be told that the one practitioner had left and then when i queried the 2nd person i was told that too much time had past. Luckily school didn’t let these people in to see my daughter. Its beggars belief!! Surely they have more important things to be doing ! We have never had any safeguarding concerns etc.

Our GP acted as gatekeepers refusing to refer despite there being neurodivergence in the family. A self referral clearly stating assessment for ASD required was instead followed up with the offer of group work online for anxiety that child would not engage with so we ended up with no service at all. The system is failing families.

2025-01-03 17:01:40 UTC

No support…just signposting

2025-01-06 09:19:12 UTC

Referral made to CAMHS - 10yo anxiety, EBSA, restricted eating, not left house for 6 months. Referral forwarded to R4Wellbeing from SPA. After assessment appointment told couldn’t meet need due to level of adaptations that would be required for meet Autistic needs. Simply signposted to other agencies - NAS, Autism West Midlands etc.

2025-01-10 14:38:29 UTC

I was told he is Autistic so it is expected they are unable to help. That was it!

2025-01-10 15:04:13 UTC

My autistic son has yet to be diagnosed or seen by the mental health team after me asking for help for nearly 5 years for his suicidal ideation and attempts. I have been blamed/had the finger pointed at me and no help to get him to the right setting. He has been out of school for 2 years now! Please help me

2025-01-10 15:10:54 UTC

Referred and refused twice, despite the refusal letter acknowledging that my child would benefit from access to mental health support. Tried to get counselling elsewhere but this was refused due to ND diagnosis. So we’re left with nothing and an increasingly distressed and withdrawn child who everybody knows needs support but nobody will help.

2025-01-10 16:04:28 UTC

Son was accepted by CAMHS with immediate effect because his assessment showed he was suicidal and at risk. I was really impressed with the initial assessment, however his first appointment with one of the workers was via phone. It took a lot of courage for him to pick up the phone to them, and they told him he was misbehaving and playing his mum up and needed to buck his ideas up. This was heart wrenching and the worst experience ever, and made his situation worsen considerably when he was already at crisis point. We eventually had a private diagnosis assessment of autism and private counselling sessions which we were lucky enough to be able to afford. But I dread how other young people who haven't had this luxury have been supported appropriately

2025-01-10 17:24:07 UTC

13 year old daughter , self harming to the point other children at school have reported her scars , suicidal . Overcome with anxiety, severely impacting her life .

Refused help from CAMHS as she doesn’t meet the criteria !! What more do they need ? She self harms and was having suicidal thoughts and THAT doesn’t qualify for help !!!!

Couldn't access Camhs

2025-01-10 18:46:47 UTC

Level 1 service was not neurodivergent appropriate as it is cbt based therapy, was refused level 3 due to child being on umbrella pathway and was told I would be offered Level 2 which is a mythical beast and doesn't appear to exist!

Was eventually supported by a charity who offered multi disciplinary therapy and accommodated my child's needs

Child signed off as ‘did not engage’

2025-01-10 19:06:51 UTC

Daughter seen by CAMHS and could not engage as required for the support they could offer due to her FASD/permanent brain damage. No allowance was made for this and it was not understood. It was a procedural centred approach and must a child centered one. Same was repeated in adult NHS service. She is now in a very hard place and we are paying for private psychiatry.

Refused

2025-01-11 00:03:30 UTC

My son was actively self-harming on a daily basis but he was refused. Total brick wall. I felt ignored and like he did not matter, so dread to think how he felt.

Immediately Rejected

2025-01-11 13:27:22 UTC

My child attends a specialist school. I have been contacted by the safeguarding team on many occasions because of concerns relating to mental health and talk of suicide and self harm. They said he needs CAMHS support but he wouldn't get it because he is autistic. They referred me to CAMHS Cast but immediately refused as he didn't meet the criteria. There is no MH support for ND children, it's a disgrace. Why should a child's mental health be different to an adults or ND different to NT, it's discrimination!

2025-01-11 16:20:34 UTC

Went to the doctors a few weeks ago for support for my 8yo autistic daughter who is really struggling with her mental health. She has a very low self esteem, saying she wants to kill others including herself. Doctor begrudgingly referred to CAHMS but told us it would get thrown out as we were not classed as a critical case and because we hadn’t done any parenting classes. Upon speaking to family front door and and family support at WCC were advised this is wrong and we were told it is because of the sheer overwhelming demand for the services. Meanwhile, we are still waiting to be told whether our referral has been accepted or rejected / battling with my daughters poor mental health in which she more frequently is saying the above!

2025-01-12 14:27:02 UTC

I previously worked in a school and local government with SEN and SEMH children and unless the child had actually self harmed they were rejected even if they were in a serious condition, even then the CAMHs worker thought it was ok for a parent to give CBD oil to a primary school child. If any child was referred from school and there was a slightest hint they may be on the spectrum they were immediately rejected. For high school children it was even worse and only if they had attempted suicide on multiple occasions were they seen and even then if they missed a single session they were signed off so my personal confidence in the service is not good.

You've refused to see our child despite the school trying to refer her. What is wrong with you? She clearly needs help, we need help, get your act together and sort it now!

2025-01-14 07:34:49 UTC

What CAMHS?

2025-01-16 09:34:20 UTC

Daughter in dire situation with panic, school refusal, anxiety, suspected autism. GP and school supported referral to CAMHS and over 2 years in we haven’t even made it to the top of the list for an appt.

Due to her spiralling situation we had no option but to find the money to pay for diagnosis and support. Feel really really let down.