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It is four weeks since one of my kids was referred to crisis mental health services on the second most serious referral level, with the first (well, first obvious) episode of psychosis.
An angry and hurt thread follows:
An angry and hurt thread follows:
For context, it is now four years since the same kid was referred to CAMHS (after years before that of seeing the GP for low mood, anxiety, poor body image and other issues around mental health and wellbeing).
In that four years we have never made it past initial assessment.
In that four years we have never made it past initial assessment.
In May 2019 after waiting over two years for a CAMHS appointment, a service phoned and conducted an assessment over the phone. The result?
"Yes you need to be seen in person. Unfortunately you're about to turn 18 so it won't be with us. We'll refer you to adult services."
"Yes you need to be seen in person. Unfortunately you're about to turn 18 so it won't be with us. We'll refer you to adult services."
Unfortunately having worked extensively on transitionary mental health campaigns for students, I knew what this meant. Instead of being slotted on the waiting list by the time we'd already waited, it was right to the bottom and we never heard from the adult service again.
Roll forward to last Autumn, back to the GP (who this time, is committed that we'll see him and only him for continuity of care). He undertakes talking therapy while the referral was made back to adult services. Medication is prescribed but the side effects are intolerable.
This continued on. We highlighted to the GP that the moods and behaviours seemed cyclical. In lockdown, by Easter those cycles became clear. Both we & the GP suspected Bipolar Disorder, which needs a psych assessment for diagnosis. We have still had no contact from adult services
Four weeks ago on a Thursday, my kid had their first episode of psychosis. I snapped into action - I'm an articulate person who can navigate bureaucracy, won't back down. Pushy. I demanded that he was seen immediately. GP made the referral on the second most urgent basis.
We were told we'd be seen within four weeks.
The following Saturday, another episode of psychosis involves nearly four hours of inconsolable & terrified kid shouting at me. Phoned crisis number & they refused to help because kid was intoxicated.
The following Saturday, another episode of psychosis involves nearly four hours of inconsolable & terrified kid shouting at me. Phoned crisis number & they refused to help because kid was intoxicated.
I can't even begin to express at this stage how angry and let down I felt. And blamed - because my kid was drunk. I'm proud that he isn't drunk every single day, because if I was feeling the way he was, I would be very tempted.
So Monday comes round. I phone the GP & explain what happened. I phone the service & was entirely dismissed despite a clear escalation in ill health. Kid is, by this point, utterly despondent and certain he's never going to recover.
At this stage I had to take a week off work because all of the plates I keep spinning are falling off their sticks, one by one. The whole family is exhausted. We've been on eggshells for six months living with and loving someone who is ill and doesn't always know it.
Finally, last Wednesday, the service called on Day 27 of the 4 week referral guarantee time. Assessment conducted over the phone. Clearly managing expectations that they're not going to accept him as he doesn't meet their criteria. Promised a call yesterday - we're still waiting.
I can't do this anymore. If I can't get the help that my kid needs - me, gobby and articulate, doesn't take no for an answer, confident pushing boundaries and navigating systems - how many other families are suffering?
How is it the case that having reached out repeatedly and asked for help, which is a HUGE AND BRAVE step, people who are ill are forced to keep chapping doors and keep getting turned away?
I'm so sick of seeing well-intentioned anti-stigma campaign and work.
Positive: There's no stigma that you're mentally ill. Hooray!
Negative: You're still ill, and you're not getting any help to get better.
Positive: There's no stigma that you're mentally ill. Hooray!
Negative: You're still ill, and you're not getting any help to get better.
Every time we have a phone call we are asked two questions, the answers to which open the gate or don't:
1/ Are you suicidal?
2/ Are you self-harming?
Imagine mental health services being so stretched that you can't get help until your answer to one or both of those is: yes.
1/ Are you suicidal?
2/ Are you self-harming?
Imagine mental health services being so stretched that you can't get help until your answer to one or both of those is: yes.
I'm over the platitudes.
The Scottish Parliament elections are in eight months and I want to see a National Mental Health Service front and centre in manifestos. Because whatever we have now is nothing but crisis care for the most unwell.
The Scottish Parliament elections are in eight months and I want to see a National Mental Health Service front and centre in manifestos. Because whatever we have now is nothing but crisis care for the most unwell.
[We have been living with this for years. Acutely for months. Despite living my life on social media I have mostly kept this to myself because it's not only my story. But I can't do this anymore.]
