"CAMHS: failing our children"

This is my experience of CAMHS over many years:

The entry criteria for CAMHS is very misleading as the information leaflet states; 'CAMHS support children with anxiety, eating disorders, self harm, depression' etc. 

In reality CAMHS will not see these children.

CAMHS have extremely long waiting lists, high staff turnover.

Avoidance restricted food intake disorder; (ARFID's) is not seen as a priority within CAMHS or anywhere within the NHS.

Unless your under a certain BMI your not considered worthy for an initial appointment/consultation/intervention/therapy. 

It's all done on weight, however ARFID's is a mental health condition not a physical one.

Despite CAMHS being: Child, adult, mental, health, service. CAMHS do not consider this eating disorder worthy of their time, or see it as a a priority.

There is no funding/service for ARFID's within CAMHS.

ARFID's is a debilitating eating disorder, people are extremely limited and in some cases can only eat 2/3 'safe' food items, alot of these people want to eat but can't.

Those that have full awareness of their eating disorder are often Psychologically traumatised. They seek help from CAMHS only to be rejected because they're not skinny enough.

ARFID's has a huge impact on their physical health, mental health, and social interactions, which has a huge impact on their self esteem and ability to interact socially as most social interactions involve food in some form or another.

This can cause isolation and the individual may withdraw completely.

These people do not feel like they fit in with their peers, and depression, self harm, is highly likely.

These children are simply turned away by CAMHS due to their healthy BMI, although internally and psychologically there is potential for them to be incredibly unwell.

Information isn't shared or read in its entirety, this is obvious when you are appointed a new healthcare professional that appears to know nothing about you.

Communication is non existent, voicemails/emails are not answered.

CAMHS will push you from pillar to post. Sign posting services that are not suitable, these services are forced to refer you back to CAMHS.

This is a good time wasting strategy for CAMHS.  

CAMHS are not helpful in crisis, despite their claims for parents/carers to make contact if your child's mental/physical health/ education is deteriorating, or at risk.

The information on CAMHS leaflet/handout is false, untrue. 

CAMHS policy for complaint is to sign post you to PALS. Complaints are not dealt with internally or resolved in the first instance.

CAMHS are very rigid when it comes to forcing you inside a box, if you don't fit completely then they rule you out entirely. CAMHS do not work in a person centred way. You are not seen as an individual, as a result people are misdiagnosed, or not receiving their diagnosis until many years later.

CAMHS do not listen to the parents concerns, and will not admit to being wrong.

Reports are often contradicting due to high staff turn over, extremely long waiting times between reports and previous reports not being read in their entirety.

CAMHS communication is a shambles. Phone calls go through to recorded messages that last many minutes, then through to a voice mail, which never gets answered.

If you do get through to reception, they will take a message which never gets answered, or replied.

You are simply blocked and ignored by CAMHS 'professionals' and left chasing receptionist.

Often when your child is in crisis and their life's potentially at risk, this has a huge negative impact on your own well-being and the welfare of the family unit.

With a diagnosis there is no intervention. 

I'm sorry to say this isn't just isolated to me, this is across the board in my experience and I feel that CAMHS are failing our children.

I have 8 years experience interacting with myself regarding CAMHS because they don't interact back, it's been traumatic to say the least.