"Support for Child Mental Health/Autism"

There have been numerous referrals submitted to Camhs between 2015 and 2024 . I was told by Camhs that my son (13 years) did not meet their criteria and CAMHS arranged for him to be placed on the Neurodevelopmental Services waiting list in 2020. Whilst on the waiting list in 2022 we hit crisis point and my son was suffering from severe anxiety, unable to attend school, unable to sleep and isolating in his bedroom.

Due to ongoing difficulties we attended A & E in  Mid March 2023 and again at the end of March 2023. He was assessed by CAMHS Intensive at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and they recorded  that my son would benefit from not only a Neurodevelopmental assessment for possible autism and ADHD but also URGENTLY requires locality CAMHS follow up for his low mood , low self esteem and difficult thoughts of harm to himself .

Following the visit to A & E visit we were offered an urgent intervention meeting with CAMHS a couple of days later, however his issues were documented as sleep related only . I was told this would be a one off appointment and to contact my GP for a referral to  paediatric sleep pathway. I raised concerns and contacted the Clinical Manager as I did not believe factors impacting on my son had been correctly identified and we were brought forward on the Neurodevelopmental Services waiting list. I was told this was a multidisciplinary service and I was given reassurance this was best course of action.

The Neurodevelopmental Services attended our home at the end of May 2023 and Mid July but by this time my son was past the point of engagement and could not engage in the way that was expected. I tried to access mental health supports via this service however I was informed that they were only a diagnostic service.

My son was required to attend a joint appointment with CAMHS in Sept 2023 to complete his assessment however by this point he barely felt able to leave his home and struggling with severe social anxiety and he was unable to attend.

I contacted CAMHS but received generic responses stating as he is already open to the Neurodevelopmental Services waiting list , we have passed your referral to them. I also contacted school seeking supports and was required to submit a self referral to educational psychologist in November 2022 and school were instructed to implement a support plan.

The educational psychologist recorded my son was requested, may have communication difficulties, following his meeting with him. Unfortunately by the time any plan was put in place my son was absent from school.

My son has barely returned to school since November 2022 and so there are huge gaps in his schooling , he has not accessed any other educational provision.

In March 2023 I requested an assessment of our needs from Social Work and a family and strength based assessment was carried out without any involvement from my son who could not engage. Social Work then withdrew as they stated health should be the priority. It is only via services from Salvesen Mindroom , Arch and non profit organisations that we have obtained any meaningful support by attending meetings , zoom calls and advocacy support.

My advocacy worker organised a multidisciplinary meeting Sept 23 and my son’s assessment was paused citing “mental health barriers”. It was arranged for involvement of CAMHS nurses to attend and the assessment would resume when my son was in a better place. The nurses from CAMHS attended Oct 2023 and in Nov 2023 however my son barricaded himself in his bedroom and he was discharged back to Neurodevelopmental Services as they stated health nurses stated they could not offer the level of intervention needed for the duration required.

My allocated worker from Neurodevelopmental Services commented that more Social support should be available . I recontacted Social Work to follow up on Self Directed Support which was initially raised at a meeting Sept 2023 and June 2024 we were placed on a 6 month waiting list for self directed support. 

In the absence of professional supports his health has deteriorated further over the last 2 years and our home life is extremely difficult . Changes have occurred whereby he is now antagonistic towards me and using aggressive language and behaviours which is escalating in severity and our relationship has been significantly affected. At home my son still presents with low mood , lying in bed and remains in his room and now he is shutting me out. And our connection is completely broken which is very concerning and I am extremely worried where this could lead. He is presenting with risk taking behaviours and more and more difficult to manage at home . I have contacted Social Work again due to these changes and difficulties at home.

Social Work contacted me June 2025 advising we had been allocated a worker. I assumed this related to my calls in crisis however it related to the assessment for Self Directed Support . Social Worker contacted CAMHS however they now need my son’s consent as he is now 13 years which is beyond frustrating as he is now in denial that he needs help . I spoke to my son’s dietician also in June 2025, she advised she would arrange for CAMHS to contact me. The Community Paediatrics submitted an urgent referral to CAMHS beginning may 2025. The school has submitted a referral to CAMHS due to their concerns for his well-being due to his non attendance and autistic burnout I have still not had any contact from CAMHS. Around end of Nov 2024 Neurodevelopmental Services advised me admin would arrange a telephone call to discuss my son's assessment . No further contact has been received . 

The agreement from the multi agency meeting that the priority should focus on improving my son’s mental health. He has not benefited from any supports . I am struggling to cope and the support received from Arch and advocacy support worker has been a life line for me .

Being listened to