Why we need more support when moving from CAMHS to AMHS

Topics mentioned: CAMHS, anxiety

About: Jordan shares their experience of transferring from children to adult mental health services when they were 18 and the support they wish had been in place.

I want to start by saying that everyone’s experience of mental health services is different. My story is not to say that they’re all bad or all the same purely based off my experience. But if someone else out there reading this blog had a similar experience - just know that you are not alone.

I have struggled with change my whole life, whether it be the transition from primary school to secondary school or that jump from secondary school to college. However, with the NHS mental health services, it was different. Along with coping with change, I had that fear of the unknown when I was under Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Honestly it felt really isolating. I did have a support worker who helped me a little bit while I was waiting for a therapist, but we focused on reducing my anxiety and other bits. But the minute I turned 18, I was transferred to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). I had a few more catch ups with my support worker, and then that was it.

I really didn’t know what to expect from AMHS, because I spent my teen years under CAMHS. I thought AMHS would treat me similarly to how I was a treated in the children’s mental health service. The initial assessment for AMHS was somewhat annoying and I felt misunderstood, like no one got me. I was wrong about the service being similar - it was a huge leap to independence. Suddenly I was the one who had to decide what we discussed in the sessions.

I know I shouldn’t be comparing myself to others but deep inside of me I wish I had someone to just help, listen, talk to me and be a helper. Especially someone to advocate for me, because anyone who knows me knows I’m a rather shy person. And with AMHS, I had to be the one who spoke to the worker. In CAMHS, my parents had the option to speak to my worker about things they were concerned about.

Despite all of this, I have used my social media platform on Instagram to share my experiences of mental health services, along with a range of things, so others don’t feel alone. I know what it’s like to be alone in your life, like there’s no one there who really understands you or just gets you. Trust me, I’ve been there many times in my life.

Overall, based on my own experience, I feel like once you hit 18 you are just left to be an adult. You suddenly have to reach out all by yourself if you want support and you have to become your own advocate. I do hope in the future that perhaps there’ll be more resources on what AMHS are like and what does it entail. I’d also like to see more workers who had their own experience of mental health services and understand the difficulties and what things are like.

After all, lived experience doesn't just teach you. It moves you to make a difference.