This story is presented as written. As such, views expressed below are the personal opinion of the author. Health systems are complex places to navigate for everyone working and existing within them; stories are presented to help find ways forward – and to reduce shame, not shift it.

Author wishes to remain anonymous

We have tried to access support for our son since he was 10 years old. Despite him presenting with such acute distress that needed hospital admission on several occasions we struggled to get a CAMHS appointment. The team would come and discharge him from hospital and often we’d be back in the same place a couple of days later.

Eventually when we had an appointment, we were told his issues were down to developmental trauma, that he was too distressed to work with someone and then basically the door was closed.

Our child continues to have episodes of extreme distress which seem to be brought on by stress and anxiety. I imagine Complex PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) but we can’t even get him seen by anyone!

We felt passed from pillar to post due to his challenges he has been in and out of residential care for the past 4 years with around 12 moves during that time. He has also been criminalised.  

At one point the court ordered a CAMHS assessment which he was taken to the hospital and was refused an assessment as he was not suicidal.

It’s been impossible to access the right support for him as he doesn’t seem to fit the mould. To this day his mental health needs are not being met and it’s cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to care for him.  

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