Aged 17, Nicola was in crisis. She was self-harming, hearing voices and thought about taking her own life.
While she had been referred for weekly counselling sessions through her local child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), this wasn't enough for someone with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, recurring depressive disorder and a borderline personality disorder.
"I went to A&E so many times through taking overdoses, but they just told me to carry on with the counselling and sent me away," she says.
Eventually, she was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit but it was a long way from home. "They treated me horribly, so to get out I convinced them really quickly I was okay, when I wasn't," recalls Nicola, who is convinced earlier support could have prevented her from being sectioned. "I started having problems with my mental health when I was about six or seven, it didn't need to get to crisis point, but the NHS wasn't listening."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
