"My childs assessment camhs"

We attended an appointment after a referral done by my child's own paediatric consultant whom we have known some years.

I felt as though my child did really well. They got quite upset and admitted that: they had thought of wanting to not be here anymore; that they were scared of having intrusive thoughts and doing something; about gender struggling; school struggling; health struggling; the horrid vivid intrusive thoughts of thinking they are capable of really horrible things and seeing it and thinking if it all the time affecting concentration at school; moods causing erratic behaviour and explosions at school and home.

It was awful. Anything my child said, the professional said they had the same. They had low mood: it's just the weather. That everyone has these types of thoughts like this but because my child has ASD, they will unfortunately be obsessed like a pop up on their phone that you keep looking at.

Firstly, in just an hour of meeting my child they have basically played it all down as normal and apparently not severe or even moderate enough to receive help. I am appalled, let down and disgusted. My child is vulnerable and looking up for help and being told they're not severe enough. In just one sitting, just wow.

There were 2 people in the room but they just sort of covered each other to play down our everyday struggles. I watch our child lost in thought, going to bed thinking they're dangerous and could  hurt people. I sit and remind them that they're just thoughts and not real and say its not true and reassure them. But apparently that's wrong, I should not try to calm them and tell them they're not crazy or dangerous but just leave them to it. It felt like 2 against one mum and a vulnerable child. They then suggested me and dad attend classes on intrusive thoughts even though we have dealt with this for years and talked our child out of many horrendous situations.

I pity anyone coming to this CAMHS. We both left feeling worse off, kinda gave up. I overheard other parents of autistic kids saying they felt let down and we certainly did.