CAMHS

[bonbons]

Hi all, just as a bit of background info, my 15 year old daughter has been under CAMHS since september 2009, referred ( with a battle) following problems both at home and at school with aggressive behaviour, self harming, and anxiety. A year later, their professional opinion was STILL behavioural, which I accepted, but kept asking 'why'? Constantly raised my concerns about her obsessions, social problems etc, as I just felt there was something else going on! After discharge from their care,it wasn't long before a serious incident at school sent her straight back again, and a place quickly found as an inpatient in a young persons unit where, low and behold, atypical aspergers syndrome was diagnosed, and she was later confirmed to be on the autistic spectrum using an ADOS assessment. when we returned to CAMHS following her diagnosis, the specialist psychiatric nurse under whose care she has been,made it quite obvious that she was sceptical about the dx which was a real blow for us as we finally felt we were getting answers that made sense, and could, at last, get the help and support DD needed. Our meetings since then have been less than helpful....eg. I expressed my concern that she was becoming quite isolated ( now out of mainstream ed and awaiting statement to allow her a place at a specialist school), and that on her rare walks to her friends house, she would tend to wear a hat, sunglasses, and headphones in order to avoid seeing people 'looking at her funny'. She was very quick to comment that 'she always says people look at her because of her style of dress' ( emo style...well, her interpretation!), and unwilling to see that it could possibly be her misinterpretation of people's expressions and intentions....as identified by other professionals! That's one incident that springs to mind, but there have been plenty others! It feels almost like she doesn't want to accept that she overlooked this possibility in the first place!

Last October, I asked if we could possibly see someone more ASD specific if possible as I didn't feel that this lady fully accepted nor understood my daughters difficulties, and they finally got back to me today with a letter in the post for an appointment with...guess who!? I phoned to cancel and explained why, and this nurse called me back within half an hour. She told me that there are no ASD specialists there, and that we need an appointment with her, as DD is under her care, in order to work out a care plan. She also said that she had been asked to supply a report to the LEA towards her statement, and hinted that she wouldn't be able to if we didn't continue to work with CAHMS!

I don't see that they have done a great deal or her tbh, in fact, I sometimes wonder whether, had they made an accurate dx themselves, perhaps support in school would have been provided earlier and she may even still be in high school and coping! Who knows....

Am I right to think also that she could hold back this report until we return? Surely she has all the info she could possibly need! DD is doing well at the moment in many respects now that the anxiety of high school no longer exists, and she is has stoped self harming completely, her anxiety symptoms are much reduced, and is working hard ( as we all are) to deal with potential meltdown triggers...she is a pleasure...most of the time!!! I am guessing however, that they have to decide whether she still needs them, rather than us or her?

[bonbons]

apologies...I managed to post this in the wrong forum and couldn't figure out to move it to 'help and advice'!!

[JsMum]

what I do now with services is put it in writing and that there answers to my letters be also put in writing, you could also talk this issue with your local PCT that the CAMHS have no ASD Specialist and that there is therefore no support for your daughter,

 

I write back to the person who is threatening to withdraw further support and ask her to put that in writing.

 

I would defo look at discussing this with PCT and also maybe put in a letter of complaint that your daugther is not recieving apropirate services.

 

It is also very possitive that your daughters mental health has improved since understanding her triggers and AS.xxx

 

JsMumx

[bonbons]

A bit late replying but thanks for advice! I did , in fact, contact PCT as you advised, and outlined my concerns regarding CAMHS and specifically the lack of support and understanding for those on the spectrum and their families, and amazingly, when I went for a meeting with the psych nurse who has been seeing us, she couldn't be more helpful! told me that they have identified the need for more support in this area and have now set up a board which includes a couple of specialists in ASD who meet to discuss individual cases, and they will now look to pass DD's case on to a particular member of this panel who is a learning disabilities nurse with a background in ASD/Aspergers! The original idea to introduce CBT will not be rushed into as it is felt that it might be too much of a challenge due to her very rigid thinking and if it didn't help then she may see it as another failure and affect her self esteem further, a point which I fully accept and appreciate. All in all, looks like we're finally on the right track and hopefully,the right school placement is not too far away either! what a turn around!!