England mental health services?...

[Speckled Gecko]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone knows about the transition from adolescent mental health services to adult ones. I will be turning 18 in a few months and was originally supposed to just stop going to any mental health service. However, i recently started struggling greatly again with a number of issues. I really don't want to have to talk to someone new as i still have panic attacks when trying to tell my psychologist of 4 years what's going on. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where adult sessions would take place and if it would cost?
Thanks for reading this even if you don't know an answer, it means a lot!
Sophie Xx

[Magical Forest.]

Hey there Sophie

I'll tell you my story, but remember that in each different county, the services can differ.
I was seeing a therapist at CAMHS for 5 years, and we agreed that I would gradually be introduced to adult services, carrying on after my 18th to make sure I feel settled with the new person and to work out how to say goodbye to my therapist. Unfortunately for me I went into hospital just as I turned 18 so they kind of sorted everything out whilst I was there. CAMHS should refer you to your local adult team though, the services shouldn't just stop at 18.

Adult services - Well. I go to a place where the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) is based in my area and see a consultant and a CPN. It's free, I see my CPN once a week/fortnight and we both help to plan my care. I have to admit though, there is quite a difference between the adolescent and adult services. I have found adolescent to be more efficient and helpful, whereas adult you tend to get messed around, but that's only in my experience, it may be different for you.

Hope i've helped in some way! If you want to chat about anything then just send me a message

Hannah x

[Palmolive]

Hi there.

Like already said, it depends where about the country you are. I know I'm soon suppose to be being transferred over to adults. My worker wants to do it gradually and for it to take a few months so I'll be seeing them both, sometimes together to ease me in to it. I know people in CAMHS who are nineteen so some CAMHS teams really push the limit on the age.

In my area we have a recovery team which is basically a team of workers who work with adults to prevent relapse which is normally about 6weeks. We also have another mental health service which is long term and they will go in to the past or what ever it is causing you to feel low where as the recovery team focus on how to deal with situations and coping techniques etc.

These are both under the NHS so you don't have to pat for them, like CAMHS. If you were to go private that would be different. I suggest you talk to your CAMHS worker about it and find the appropriate team to go in to and perhaps ask about easing in to it.

I hope this helps.
Jessie

[*Jen*]

Hi Sophie,

I agree with what has already been said and it does differ quite a bit depending on what area you are from. I saw CAMHS up until I was 19 because the service in my area went up to that age. I saw a psychologist for like 3 years and even though I wasn't sure I was going to be able to cope on my own she thought I would be able to so discharged me from services and I was not referred to adults. Overall, I found CAMHS really helpful.

A month or so later I was struggling to cope so I was seeing my GP regularly and was under the crisis team for periods. I got referred to primary mental health services which is like short term and had an assessment but in the end didn't actually end up seeing anyone cos the waiting times were like over a year. Even though I overdosed and ended up in A&E many times no one helped me. I ended up being admitted to hospital about 6 months later for 2 and a half months. Then finally they decided they would refer me to the community mental health team. I found adult services quite negative to start with because they refused to help me until I ended up in hospital when it may have been able to be prevented. It seems that they only take you on if you have severe mental health problems otherwise you don't meet the criteria.

Adult services seems to be more limited as well compared to CAMHS. It is much harder to see a psychologist and if you do it is time limited. I now have a CPN who I see every week or two. I also go to group therapy and have a psychiatrist that I see every 6 months or so.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions then feel free to ask

[Nostalgia]

I'm under adults. And am currently under 'short term section ' but am being transfered into long term soon. I go to some centre in town and I have an appointment every two weeks at the moment, and am on the waiting list for group therapy. I've never been under camhs, but adults isn't too bad. and it doesn't cost me anything except travel costs.