Adult Services

[Arioch]

I'm being seen regularily in by a CAMHS team, just weekly CBT and prescribed 100mg sertraline. Nothing really unusual.

I'm 17 now and will be 18 in February.
Is there anyone who has treatment from any adult services? What can I expect to be different? Will I have to pay for services or will it be NHS? I think I'll still be able to get my medication free of charge because I'm still in full time education.

So yeah. Anyone who's gone from adolescent to child services, I would really appreciate your support.

Thanks

[one_step_closer]

I don't really remember the process of moving from CAMHS to adult services, I think it was prerry smooth though. You should be able to get treatment through the NHS although you might be on a waiting list for a while. You could continue your CBT with an adult psychologist. You also get your medication free of charge until you are 19 or leave education. I hope that helps, can you ask someone from the CAMHS team about the process? Take care.

[sherlock holmes]

I couldn't wait for the change from CAMHS to adult services because CAMHS were utterly crap!

When I got to adult services I was finally taken seriously and listened to.

Adult services are still NHS. There might be waiting lists for psychology, but in the meantime you would be seen by a keyworker from the CMHT, usually a CPN or a social worker.

My transition from CAMHS to a CMHT was done whilst I was in hospital. I had a CPA to hand over and met my keyworker and such. They basically go through the areas you need support with so they can allocate a team and find what services would be appropriate.

[LetMeSlipAway]

As well as control freak i was also referred from CAMHS to adult services when I was in hospital which required moving from an adolesant ward to adult ward so everything was kept on the Q.T so I really didnt know what was going on at the time...

when moved over to the adult services you will be assigned a CPN which is a community phyciatric nurse who will deal with your needs...
The NHS will still pay for your treatment unless of course you go privitaly!
as for perscriptions they will still be free because your in full time education, I get mine free because im on income support, I'd be out a fortune if i had to pay!

[Arioch]

Thanks everyone, it's been useful :) I was feeling pretty anxious about it but I'm not as worried now, so thanks.

[tamobhuuta]

i've been with adult services a couple of months now, and it's ok, except they insist on asking you exactly the same questions you got asked at CAMHS. i've been seeing my 'care co-ordinator' (not sure whether she's a social worker or whatever) and a few times the 'team manager' (ditto). they were much quicker about getting appointments, with them and when i needed to see the psych, than CAMHS ever were. as a sweeping judgement i'd say CAMHS always avoided doing anything, maybe hoping i'd go away, whereas the CMHT seem to have more of a "treat her so she's better and will go away" attitude. you've really got to say what you want or they generally won't try to guess. like with me they were always banging on about my taking responsibility for my own safety (been doing that for years mate, just badly) and it wasn't until i asked to that they decided to set up a safety plan (and now act like it's there idea ). biggest advantage of CMHT so far is confidentiality. before, my parents got told everything, but so far i'm the only one receiving letters about me, which is good.
so yeah, it's ok for me, i hope things go smoothly for you.

[ems]

I personally had a bad experience of change of services, but its probs just my area. I was in hosp from Aug 07 to April 08 in Adolecent wards, and as i was being discharged, I turned 18 (May 1st). So adult services were suddenly dumped with someone who was very needy, just off a section 3 and who they didn't know, as it was a sudden discharge. It lead to me not getting any treatment at all, then I ended up on an adult ward for a couple of months, when they decided I have borderline p.d. and cant do anything for apart from weekly DBT which took forever to organize. I found the adult services have a very different apporach to suicidal patients. When i was under 18, the approach was to try and keep me safe, at all costs keep me alive. When I turned 18 the approach was let me kill myself if i want to. Its that bit im still having to get used to. They blabble about retension of responsability alot. Whatever that is.
But anyways. Since you an outpatient with a treatment plan and stuff theyll probs continue as normal, prob a different therapist than who you see now, but if it helps, ASK them for it. you have to ask, nothing's offered. And youll see a psychiatrist, who will give you the same meds if you want. If they are working. Now your turning 18 there are a whole new world of drug treatments that are for over 18's only.
I really hope you transition through services is easier than mine was, and that you find a team who you really get on with. You'll have a psychiatrist, and normally a CPN, who is a community person who just checks up on you in your house or takes you out for coffee and stuff normally once a week. And then a therapist too.
Sorry I waffling i know im waffling so im going to shut up now!! Take care

[dubagirl]

I was transferred from CAMHS to CMHT services in October, so the experience is all very fresh in my memory!
I was an inpatient on an adolescent ward from March until my 18th birthday, when I was discharged.
I was then admitted to an adult ward the next day as an emergency. Was there 2 weeks, had 3 weeks out, and then this week I was an inpatient there again for 3 days.
I've personally found the change extremely difficult, though this is mainly due to being really attached to staff on the adolescent ward so I'm missing them a lot still.
As you are in the community, I guess that's not such an issue, though you might find changing doctors/therapists etc difficult?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ems

I found the adult services have a very different apporach to suicidal patients. When i was under 18, the approach was to try and keep me safe, at all costs keep me alive. When I turned 18 the approach was let me kill myself if i want to. Its that bit im still having to get used to. They blabble about retension of responsability alot.

This is exactly the experience I've had. I find it really unsettling to be honest, they seem more interested in me becoming more responsible for myself than for my safety to be upheld in all circumstances. The unfortunate fact is that I'm not always going to be able to keep myself safe, but it seems they're not so concerned by this.

A plus with adult services is that you have complete confidentiality, and have much more say in the treatment you receive. For example, I have been able to bring my family meetings to a close now that I'm with my CMHT even though my parents still want them to happen.
Also, adult services can offer more types of medication (whether you see that as a positive or a negative I don't know, though for me it's good as I didn't respond to meds offered by CAMHS).
There's also loads of community activities to get involved in if you want to, that are for adult "service users". I know all about what's on offer as my keyworker is an OT!
As others have said, you will still get your medication free because of being in full-time education, and you will be able to have your treatment on the NHS, unless you opt to go private. Not sure about waiting lists though, as apparently I was treated as being an emergency and so queue-jumped or whatever?!

I hope that's been of some help? PM me for anything else if you want.
xxxx

[Sleepless123]

Well i think im actually quite a bit older than most people who have posted in this thread and im not sure how useful my experiences will be to you but i will share anyway!

Well i was never transferred between the child and adult services as such.But have experienced quite a bit of both services.i was seen as a child but then discharged before i was due to go to adult services.CAMHs for me wasnt great but i was seen weekly and they did threaten to increase this when my self harm stepped up too.Luckily for me they never did [i didnt get on greatly with the CPN concerned much of the time though some of it i did] but they also threatened me with hospital.And this made me even more reluctant to talk to them honestly and openly anymore.It felt like these things were said as threats to me and not in a nice and caring way.So cos of all of that and various other factors i often got very little from my experiences with CAMHs.i felt i couldnt talk to them.i still struggle to express myself even now and i think i always will but at least i manage it a bit better.

i was then referred to adult services at a later date after id been in a general hospital for an overdose and i have been in and out of adult mental health services ever since!

Who you will see?As the others have said probably either a CPN, social worker, OT, psycharist or psychologist or a combination of any of those.It is impossible to predict too accurately which as it depends on the case and also the people in the team you get passed too cos obviously everyone thinks differently!Though it may be that you will get similar types of professionals eg psychologist to what you have had in CAMH's if that treatment is working.There may or may not be waiting lists.i personally have had times when ive had to wait for treatment and other times when ive jumped the queue so to speak and been treated as an immediate emergency case for support.How often you will be seen? Again this will probably depend on the professional person you end up with, their caseload and the individual team you are allocated to and the circumstances of your case/situation.i have been seen at varied frequencies during my experiences with adult services.Sometimes once a week, occasionally more often at really desperate times but very very rare.Then at some points also fortnightly or right up to just seeing a psycharist once every six months or so.And then also being totally discharged from mental health services at the community at times too.It really does seem to vary.i have also experienced short periods of hospital care previously in psychiatric units.

i just want to say to you good luck with this really and just be as open and honest as you can when you first meet the adult services so they can properly assess your situation.They will understand very much if you are nervous though and that trust takes time and that getting to know them/changing over might not feel easy for you - well they should realise that anyway and i hope they will!

Please keep posting if it helps and let us know how your doing.If you ever need a friend or would like to know anymore of any of my experiences please also feel free to PM me anytime.

[Tig]

I didn't have a great experience but I would say that's the area I live in, as many people here having complaints about the CMHT and in particular the CPN I was given!

I was actually transferred at 16 so I think that was a shock to me too because I wasn't expecting it, and the transfer was quick because they put me in to an adult hospital and when I was discharged I had an adult CPN although my lovely CAMHS CPN still offered me monthly sessions for a while to 'taper' me off, which was really kind.

Once I got a decent CPN in CMHT I have had good experiences. My new CPN has arranged DBT therapy for me and CBT for a phobia, so I do feel like I'm being taken seriously. Also, I have the support of the crisis team if necessary and access to a consultant psychiatrist. I'm also lucky to have a fantastic GP who I can go to.

You do end up with more responsibility to keep yourself safe and although at first it's unsettling and very difficult, I think in the long run it's a good thing because you are learning new skills on how to cope.

Best of luck sweetie, I am sure it will be ok!

xxx

[sherlock holmes]

I talked with one of my keyworkers the other day about who has responsibility for me. I said to her "But it's your job stopping me from killing myself, it's your responsibility to keep me alive" and she said "No, that's your responsibility. I have a duty of care towards you, but if you're hell bent on killing yourself, I can't stop you. And I'm not responsible or liable for anything you do to yourself".

And that really shocked me!

[whirlpools]

did you disagree, control freak?
i'm just wondering, because it's a message i found really hard to take in at first. life is painful, and i wanted someone else to do it for me. i think that once you get your head round the fact that it is your responsibility what you do to yourself, then things might start to slowly get easier. this is of course, dependent upon the fact that you are offered an appropriate amount of support to do this. at first, i wasn't. so i really rebelled against the "taking responsibility" line. now i get more support and it's easier to take responsibility.

[sopranonut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by control freak

I talked with one of my keyworkers the other day about who has responsibility for me. I said to her "But it's your job stopping me from killing myself, it's your responsibility to keep me alive" and she said "No, that's your responsibility. I have a duty of care towards you, but if you're hell bent on killing yourself, I can't stop you. And I'm not responsible or liable for anything you do to yourself".

And that really shocked me!

To be honest I would agree with this - ultimately it is your own responsibility - they can help and support you through tough times but no one can do it for you. And it's true that when you become an adult you DO have more responsibility over yourself. However, i did (and still do sometimes) struggle with this ideae as i want someone to be able to take responsibility and save me from myself - but unfortunately that's just not the way it works.

I found my transition from CAMHS pretty difficult. I was actually discharged when i was 17 as i was cosidered *better* and then refered to adult services 6 months later when i became unwell again. Unfortunately as i was not directly transfered adult services didn't recieve my CAMHS notes (and even actually after a lot of hassling i don't think they ever didreceiev them). Not long after being seen by adult services i ended up being admitted under section 2 - this was a bad move - it did not help and actually made me a lot worse - however, if they had had my CAMHS notes they would have known this from my previous admissions to adolescent units.

I think the main difference with adult services is that they are a lot quicker to prescribe medication, admit to hospital and section patients. CAMHS tend to spend a lot more time and effort on talking therapies and keep people in the community. I personally believe there is a major lack of talking therapy used in adult services and whenever you are refered there is usually a very long waiting list.

Just my experience.