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Child mental health: A mother's struggle | Child mental health: A mother's struggle |
(about 9 hours later) | |
In the first ever children's mental health week, a small survey reveals parents' frustration with the support they get. | In the first ever children's mental health week, a small survey reveals parents' frustration with the support they get. |
Parents like Sally Burke. | |
She has toughened up. She has had to. | She has toughened up. She has had to. |
She says: "I've become a very hard woman. I'm holding my emotions at arm's length so that I can function." | She says: "I've become a very hard woman. I'm holding my emotions at arm's length so that I can function." |
The change has been brought about by having to cope for more than two years with her daughter Maisie's mental health problems. | The change has been brought about by having to cope for more than two years with her daughter Maisie's mental health problems. |
Escalating problems | Escalating problems |
She said: "Previously, things that Maisie said to me would really have hurt me, I'd have been upset and cried. | She said: "Previously, things that Maisie said to me would really have hurt me, I'd have been upset and cried. |
"Now I've got to let it all ride over me and think she doesn't mean it." | "Now I've got to let it all ride over me and think she doesn't mean it." |
Maisie was a difficult baby, who became a difficult toddler, who became a difficult child. | Maisie was a difficult baby, who became a difficult toddler, who became a difficult child. |
Sally used to think her daughter "would be better when she was three, she'll be better when she goes to school, she'll be better when she's a teenager". | Sally used to think her daughter "would be better when she was three, she'll be better when she goes to school, she'll be better when she's a teenager". |
It hasn't happened. | It hasn't happened. |
Maisie has autism but her problems escalated when her father died. | Maisie has autism but her problems escalated when her father died. |
She didn't cope well, so Sally took her to see a child psychiatrist. | She didn't cope well, so Sally took her to see a child psychiatrist. |
Aged 11, Maisie disclosed she was feeling suicidal. Family life became much more difficult. | Aged 11, Maisie disclosed she was feeling suicidal. Family life became much more difficult. |
Within months, Sally discovered her daughter self harming, leading to the then 12-year-old being taken to a children's mental health hospital in Stafford, 130 miles from their home in Hull. | Within months, Sally discovered her daughter self harming, leading to the then 12-year-old being taken to a children's mental health hospital in Stafford, 130 miles from their home in Hull. |
'I need you' | 'I need you' |
No beds were available anywhere nearer. The distance meant visits were infrequent. | No beds were available anywhere nearer. The distance meant visits were infrequent. |
Her mother said: "A girl a lot older than her beat her up one time. She sobbed down the phone 'I want a cuddle, I need you'. | Her mother said: "A girl a lot older than her beat her up one time. She sobbed down the phone 'I want a cuddle, I need you'. |
"It was horrific. I couldn't give her a cuddle." | "It was horrific. I couldn't give her a cuddle." |
Maisie was moved slightly closer to home, to a unit in Sheffield. Her health improved and she was allowed back home. | Maisie was moved slightly closer to home, to a unit in Sheffield. Her health improved and she was allowed back home. |
But last autumn things deteriorated again. | But last autumn things deteriorated again. |
According to Sally everything was "I want death". | According to Sally everything was "I want death". |
Even when asked what she wanted for tea, Maisie would say "I want death". | Even when asked what she wanted for tea, Maisie would say "I want death". |
She took an overdose and has been back at the unit in Sheffield since December. And the distance remains a problem. | She took an overdose and has been back at the unit in Sheffield since December. And the distance remains a problem. |
A unit in Hull that Maisie used to attend has been closed and Sally and other parents in the city who have children with mental health problems have started a petition to get it re-opened. | A unit in Hull that Maisie used to attend has been closed and Sally and other parents in the city who have children with mental health problems have started a petition to get it re-opened. |
"She needs to be nearer her family," says Sally. | "She needs to be nearer her family," says Sally. |
"She's homesick and there's a possibility she could be away for six months. That's an enormous amount of time for a child of 13." | "She's homesick and there's a possibility she could be away for six months. That's an enormous amount of time for a child of 13." |
The struggles the Burke family have encountered are sadly not unique. | The struggles the Burke family have encountered are sadly not unique. |
A small self-selecting survey of 377 parents of children with psychiatric problems suggests that two-thirds believe they don't get enough support, while a quarter had to wait more than a year to receive treatment for their child. | A small self-selecting survey of 377 parents of children with psychiatric problems suggests that two-thirds believe they don't get enough support, while a quarter had to wait more than a year to receive treatment for their child. |
Charity Young Minds conducted the survey on behalf of NHS England. | Charity Young Minds conducted the survey on behalf of NHS England. |
Sarah Brennan, Young Minds' chief executive, says: "Our survey of parents who have used children's mental health services starkly demonstrates that they far too often have to battle to get the support their children need. | Sarah Brennan, Young Minds' chief executive, says: "Our survey of parents who have used children's mental health services starkly demonstrates that they far too often have to battle to get the support their children need. |
"Our research also shows how parents often feel alienated from their child's treatment and are frustrated at the lack of resources available to support young people with mental health problems." | "Our research also shows how parents often feel alienated from their child's treatment and are frustrated at the lack of resources available to support young people with mental health problems." |
Direct action | Direct action |
NHS England now says it intends to work with the charity to improve parental involvement in the development of psychiatric services. | NHS England now says it intends to work with the charity to improve parental involvement in the development of psychiatric services. |
Dr Martin McShane, of NHS England, says: "What we've heard from the survey is a real wake-up call for the system. | Dr Martin McShane, of NHS England, says: "What we've heard from the survey is a real wake-up call for the system. |
"We know from experience that if we work with parents we'll get better services." | "We know from experience that if we work with parents we'll get better services." |
Sally Burke feels the system is currently failing her sick daughter. | Sally Burke feels the system is currently failing her sick daughter. |
The local unit she relied on has closed; the 24/7 support service she used to access has been scaled back. | The local unit she relied on has closed; the 24/7 support service she used to access has been scaled back. |
She's turned to direct action - through the petition, social media and lobbying of MPs, ministers and health officials. | She's turned to direct action - through the petition, social media and lobbying of MPs, ministers and health officials. |
She's doing everything she can, everything she knows, to get her daughter the best care. | She's doing everything she can, everything she knows, to get her daughter the best care. |
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