Today sees the start of children’s mental health awareness week.
This is something very close to my heart. Our daughter has suffered with mental health issues for several years and the one thing that I have learnt over these years is that the system supposed to be supporting children is broken. Completely and utterly faulty and in need of urgent repair.
Like many other illnesses, mental health is indiscriminate in who it chooses. It isn’t always caused by something. It’s random, it choses its victims quietly and with stealth like precision.
Sometimes it’s just the way the brain is wired, sometimes there may actually be a cause – childhood trauma for example.
There is one thing that is consistent though – and that’s the failings of an NHS system that is supposed to be supporting our children.
Lets look at this from a physical health perspective.
If you break your leg, you go to A&E. You get an x-ray. You get a cast put on – you may have an operation, . You may go to a fracture clinic, you may be referred for physiotherapy. There is a plan in place to fix your leg.
If you have diabetes you are under the care of a medical team who monitor you, who tweak your medications, who do regular checks on you. There is a plan in place to help you manage your condition.
If you have cancer you are referred to an oncologist. You have treatment. You have nurses to care for you. There is a plan in place to do everything possible to try and cure the disease.
If you have a heart condition, you are referred to the right specialist and have consistent, regular care. There is a plan in place to monitor you and to treat you.
If you are a child with mental health issues this just does not happen.
You may get referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs). If you’re lucky you’ll be seen within several months. If you need an assessment to diagnose autism and you’re really lucky you’ll be seen in 2 years’ time! And during that time you’re just left to cope and figure out things for yourself. No support. No specialists or experts guiding you. NO PLAN.
If you have a serious mental health issue you’ll be lucky if you get any support at all. NO PLAN
This isn’t me making things up. This is me talking from 1st hand experience.
Now nearly 16 years old, my daughter’s mental health is so fragile that she can no longer live at home as she cannot keep herself safe. Constant self-harm. Constant suicidal thoughts.
For years we were begging for help from services. For years we were telling them this really can’t “just” be adhd. For years our daughter shouted that no-one is listening to her. 2 weeks ago we were finally listened to. Our daughter had her say. SHE was finally listened to – finally a diagnosis confirmed and amended that is reflective of our daughters presentation.
Years of trauma from being emotionally and physically abused at school by teachers. Being in mental health hospitals. Being left without support. If you look at her medical records it may show appointments with Camhs but more tick box exercises because all that really happened was “how are you feeling” Nothing offered despite it existing. NO PLAN
There are things that your local authority offers but NEVER tells you about. NEVER refers you for until it’s too little too late. CBT, DBT etc. These therapies exist. They exist within the NHS system but no-one tells you about them. No-one tells you what may help. No-one puts a plan together – no-one says we’ll do A, B, C etc.
There are so many therapies out there that help kids. Everything from Art therapy to Lego therapy. But no-one seems to be thinking in a sensible way. There’s no strategy when a child is referred to Camhs, unlike physical health. If you are unwell there is a strategic plan. Mental health needs a strategic plan. Each child with a mental health issue needs a strategic plan
For us it took years before we were referred to a specialist intervention unit available in Hertfordshire that works with children who suffered developmental trauma. Something that if it happened much earlier could have made the world of difference. Then when under their care a completely new psychiatrist recommended DBT. Something that should have been suggested a long time ago. Something that our usual psychiatrist was well aware of but just didn’t think to refer us.
Why is this happening? WHY is the system so appallingly bad?
There is so much incredible work being done. There are so many wonderful organisations out there doing an amazing job and speaking up and supporting young people with mental health issues. Now it’s time for Local Authorities to take responsibility.
If it wasn’t for their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex bringing the subject to the forefront as well as many other campaigners and spokes people, I genuinely think we would be even further behind than where we are now. Thank goodness for their projects and there unfaltering determination to make mental health something that’s ok to speak about, something that doesn’t need to have a stigma and something that needs attention.
This is now up to every NHS trust across the country to put things right. It needs Government intervention. The Children’s Mental Health service needs overhauling. It needed overhauling 9 years ago when we first needed their help and it still needs overhauling today. Nothing has changed. Nothing has got better. Everything has got worse – including our daughter. She deserves more than this. She deserves everything.
Victorious Star 