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CAMHS refusing to support

CWFC26

Hi Everyone,

I’m hoping for some advice or shared experiences.

My 6-year-old nephew is currently waiting for an autism assessment (referred by school/SALT). We’ve been told the wait could be around 12 months.

In the meantime, we’ve had 3 referrals to CAMHS declined. The reason we’ve been given is that his difficulties (mainly severe anxiety and obsessive worries for the past 3 years) are likely linked to autism, so they want to wait for the autism assessment rather than offer any support now.

We’re really concerned because his anxiety is quite severe and affecting daily life:

  • He refuses to use school/public toilets and holds himself all day (8:10am–3:30pm)

  • He is starting to refuse foods he previously ate due to strong worries and associations

  • He has intrusive, obsessive fears that don’t seem age appropriate

It feels very wrong to just leave him without any support for potentially a year.

Has anyone else had CAMHS refuse support while waiting for an autism diagnosis? Is this actually allowed, or have others managed to challenge it and get support in the meantime?

Any advice or experiences would really help. Thank you.

Parents

  • Hi - so sorry to hear that CAMHS are not being responsive.  I have known CAMHS to to decline referrals until a diagnosis is in place to clarify their approach and the type of  support they might provide following the diagnosis.  Were the referrals made via school or other channels?  Does his school have any other type of support they may be able to offer at this point?  You could try appealing via the PALS ( Patient Advice and Liaison Service).  Wish  I could be of more help!!

  • in reply to googlefox

    Hey, they was made via the GP with support from School also. School asked SALT to assess him just to make sure that even though he appears to understand-was he actually understanding hence the meltdowns. They assessed and said it appears he has social and communication difficulties and to further explore for an autism assessment. His papers are going to a panel next month and if they decide it needs an assessment we have another 12 months wait. School and ourselves implement coping strategies and that work to lessen the anxities around autism but Just struggling with helping him go to the toilet in school or public and his eating. We have explored private play therapy but they discontinued it as she needed him on a 1 to 1 session for it be effective- he could not seperate from me or his mum to go off on his own with the therapist. Tried PALS compliant, even though camhs acknowledge some failings on their part they e still giving us generic signposting in which we have done done 16 months ago and didn’t work. Went for a face to face meeting yesterday and are still adamant on waiting for him to get an autism asssment. Just feel like they overlooking the mental health because they focusing so heavily on waiting for autism assessment without even seeing him. Just constant barriers and a mental health system that is failing these children. I asked if he didnt have presentations of autism would they of seen him and he said yes. Frustrating. Thank you for the reply though I really do appreciate it  

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  • in reply to googlefox

    Hey, they was made via the GP with support from School also. School asked SALT to assess him just to make sure that even though he appears to understand-was he actually understanding hence the meltdowns. They assessed and said it appears he has social and communication difficulties and to further explore for an autism assessment. His papers are going to a panel next month and if they decide it needs an assessment we have another 12 months wait. School and ourselves implement coping strategies and that work to lessen the anxities around autism but Just struggling with helping him go to the toilet in school or public and his eating. We have explored private play therapy but they discontinued it as she needed him on a 1 to 1 session for it be effective- he could not seperate from me or his mum to go off on his own with the therapist. Tried PALS compliant, even though camhs acknowledge some failings on their part they e still giving us generic signposting in which we have done done 16 months ago and didn’t work. Went for a face to face meeting yesterday and are still adamant on waiting for him to get an autism asssment. Just feel like they overlooking the mental health because they focusing so heavily on waiting for autism assessment without even seeing him. Just constant barriers and a mental health system that is failing these children. I asked if he didnt have presentations of autism would they of seen him and he said yes. Frustrating. Thank you for the reply though I really do appreciate it  

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