The Young Peoples Voice

1
The Young Peoples Voice!

• Making the Journey to Recovery

2
What weve been talking about

• Coming into hospital can be a very anxious time,
  but coming into a mental health hospital is even
  more so.
• The young people on Aquarius Ward have discussed
  their experiences of CAMHS and how things could
  be improved and made less anxiety provoking and
  upsetting.

3
Time is of the Essence!

• We think there are some things that could help to
  make the stress and anxiety of being unwell more
  bearable.
• For example
• Quicker access to outpatient services and less
  bureaucracy involved with waiting for
  appointments.
• Often young people have said if they could have
  been seen sooner then they would not have reached
  crisis point!

4
Availability and Access

• We all felt that there should be more times
  available for appointments in CAMHS.
• So many of the professionals seem to work on a
  part time basis that is difficult for parents to
  make suitable appointments.
• There should be an out of hours service 24/7.
• We know this would be difficult, but it is
  something we feel would be very beneficial.
• More On-call Duty Doctors during holiday periods

5
Getting Help

• There definitely needs to be more Outreach
  Workers who work outside of 9-5
• There are not enough to go around considering how
  many patients there are needing help.
• More resources are needed. Research shows Mental
  health problems among young people is rising
• Different boroughs seem to have
• shorter waiting times than others.
• This is unfair!

6
Getting there

• Some of us feel that if it is appropriate then
  some transport should be provided to take young
  people who are unwell to appointments as using
  public transport can add to their anxiety and
  difficulties when they are already feeling
  vulnerable and frightened.

7
Decision Making

• Being able to make decisions about ourselves and
  contribute to the rehabilitation process would
  help to make things easier for us.
• Some young people are able to make decisions, but
  others are sometimes told what is going to happen
  to them and they have very little say in the
  doctors decisions.

8
What we think about being an In Patient

• Some of us felt that a Transition Ward, near
  the main ward or off site would be preferable.
• Some of us felt that when we are on the road to
  recovery we prefer not to be around other
  patients who are really unwell.
• This is because it can be upsetting to see
  someone in distress, especially if you are a Day
  Patient.
• Separate units for patients just arriving and
  patients about to be discharged. It is really
  frightening seeing someone being restrained and
  shouting to be let go
• It means staff have to prioritise peoples needs
  and just because youre getting better you still
  might need some attention and company.

9
The Buildings dont help us to feel better

• Being on a unit in a large Victorian Hospital
  building is depressing and demoralising.
• Springfield Hospital is a frightening place to be
  and visit because it is so big and old
• A modern unit not as part of the hospital site
  would be less severe and less frightening
  especially to the younger patients.
• Often we feel trapped and segregated, we lose
  touch with normality.
• New and improved resources would show us that
  people care and respect us.

10
COMMUNICATION

• Some doctors do not always listen and are not
  always sympathetic as they could be.
• I met doctors who were dismissive of my worries.
• Some of the doctors are very judgemental and are
  too quick to make a diagnosis.
• Sometimes there is no consistency with who you see

11
Sharing Information

• Often things happen around us and we do not
  always understand what is happening.
• It would be helpful if we were
• de-briefed after incidents happen as we get
  worried and confused
• We think that a Negotiation Group should be set
  up so that it helps us with our interpersonal
  relationships with other young people on the
  ward.
• We need to know that we will be offered
  individual sessions. Some people get more than
  others,
• WHY!

12
Please speed up the process!

• Some patient comments
• More resources are needed
• It took me to get to my lowest point before I
  even got any help.
• Need more Outreach Workers.
• My GP told me to go to Connexions rather than
  refer me to CAMHS.
• Doctors shouldnt be judgemental.
• Not so quick to say things, be more sympathetic
  towards us.
• A Stepping Stone patients to be moved on when
  they are getting better.
• It is distressing seeing unwell patients when
  you are getting better. It is not nice to be
  reminded of your own unpleasant and chaotic time.

13
More Patient Comments

• Nursing staff should work 9-5 for Day Patients.
• The shift work system means sometimes you do not
  see your primary nurse for weeks-there is no
  continuity.
• If you get another nurse it is difficult to go
  over things again and again.
• There needs to be more confidentiality.
• I was appalled by how many people knew about my
  problem.
• I was pushed around and saw a number of
  different doctors in different places.

14
Listen to us please and make some changes. Make
us SMILE!

• Are you really promoting Inclusion or Exclusion?
• Where does the Every Child Matters initiative
  fit in?
• CAMHS needs to have more communication with us
• You need to understand us more and speed up the
  process and give us the resources to help us deal
  with our Emotional Well-Being.
• I couldn't stop laughingno I just couldn't help
  myselfsee you messed up my mental healthI was
  quite unwell
• Lily Allen Smile