CAMHS - child and adolescent mental health services

They said the child would have to try and take his own life before they could help. The seem to pick and choose who they support.

Terrible. They discharged my daughter after a couple of days. They did a couple of calls, saw her once and then discharged her saying to call them if she needed anything. She has Autism, ADD and anxiety. They are terrible.

It took 13 months to get seen and referred to someone. The psychiatrist is very very good. I understand my mental health. I was referred on for Autism assessments. I have an appointment in August.

They're meant to be doing an autism/ADHD referral to get me on medication but they are taking so long. Forward thinking last saw me 4 years ago. None of them communicate with each other and I am just being left to get on with it.

Hopeless, did not see the same psychiatrist twice. They were all locum. Alex was diagnosed and then not given support or advice or going forward. Found it very strange.

Poor experience. System not working and they said therefore can’t access any patient notes and can’t make an appointment - weeks turn to months.

They're brilliant, I've been under them for years. My consultant left and its been a mess with my meds. They've also made chnages to the system so now the GP has to order them from CAMHS and the Childrens. It's a joke.

I have been waiting almost 2 years to see a psychologist/psychiatrist the mental health system is under resourced and my nurse cannot change the medication even though it isn’t working.

Good relationship with the specific councillor I was assigned. Sincerely tried to secure post-16 treatment. Received Cognitive Behaviour Therapy since Age 13. Prescribed anti-depressants. Stopped mid sixth form/college education. Feel healthcare workers are too insistent in immediately recommending medication. Mental Health assistance is incredibly limited post-16. There have been attempts to increase mental health awareness for adolescents, however for people who are above this age (i.e. middle aged and elderly) their treatment and more importantly their waiting time is alarming.