Teenagers 'lost' in the health system

cest.la.vie · 25-06-2009, 06:51 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8117850.stm

Some hopeful news! A much needed review of the care provided for 16-18 year olds.

Lou Lou · 26-06-2009, 10:58 AM

I had this problem. When I went to my GP to get help (SH not ED) he was hesitent to help me because I was 17. Apparently I was too young to be on anti-depressents and it wouldn't be worth refering me to a therapist or mental health centre anything because I would only have to be moved when I turned 18. So I basically never got any help.

What I don't understand is what the difference is between adolescent care and adult care. Surely treatment is based on the same thing and would it really be that difficult to just move a file into the "adult" section when the person turns 18.

I don't know how these things work and, as usual, we are kept in the dark as to the how's and why's so my opinions may be completely invalid; but it seems to me that as trained professionals it wouldn't be beyond their capabilities to gradually change tack during therapy sessions when someone turns 18 if that was what was needed. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to move from a child ward to adult ward if necessary. I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult to change the actitivies set up in in-patient hospital situations.

Is this one of those red tape issues or is there something hugely different in the level of care an over 18 would recieve?

Buttons. · 26-06-2009, 11:02 AM

That sounds great that they are realising this. I dream of the day when they won't stick suicidal teenagers in with screaming 3 year olds on child wards *shudder*

Dreaming. · 26-06-2009, 03:27 PM

Lou Lou - from what my therapist said, there's quite a different level of care between adolescent and adult services. At one point I was relapsing in my ED (I'd gone to hospital about it a few years ago, and at this point, I was borderline underweight), and he said to me that under adolescent services, I was high risk, but under adult services, I wasn't at death's door, therefore I was ok.

I mean, they could just move the file over - but the care and access to care would be different, I suppose?

Luckily, the adolescent team in my area was absolutely brilliant; there was a teen ward in hospital, and the CAHMs was wonderful, very helpful, and quite quick to be seen.
But, I know that's not representative of the country, and it's awful. Good to hear there's discussion regarding it.

surprising mystery · 30-06-2009, 11:20 PM

When I was 17 I was passed from Ivry (CAMHS) to A and E, to Adult Crisis team to Adult ward in the middle of the night because I was 17 and a half and nobody had a f*cking clue where to put me.

I remember packing my bags *god, shudders* Horrid night.

Anyway, between 16-19 the rules keep changing and nobody wants to take responsibility,, when the priority should be patient safety, not paperwork.

Sometimes Crazy · 30-06-2009, 11:27 PM

I'm just coming up to 16 and under CAMHS - the nearest adolescent psychiatric ward is in the middle of Birmingham, I believe. And we're near Warwickshire. With no transport of our own. The ward I'd be in if it wasn't a planned admission has nothing to do with CAMHS.

Meep, that sounds really distressing, Marie, especially with the reasons you were in hospital on top >.<

But yeah, it will be reassuring to know that things will hopefully by the time I leave CAMHS or am moved onto adult services be a lot better.

Shatterproof · 12-07-2009, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Surely they could have some form of intermediate service for say 18-21 year olds?

I was just going to say this. I'm sure that its the best option, if these so called professionals are so confused by the shitty system we have at the moment, then maybe its a good idea to expand it.