A MOTHER has said the lack of support for her daughter’s mental health could lead to her death, despite months of seeking help.

The south Pembrokeshire mother, who wishes her family to remain anonymous to protect the daughter’s mental health, has been struggling to obtain support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services since spring.

“Two months ago, she had an outburst and pulled a knife out on me. She said if I stopped her she would hold the blade,” said the mother.

This incident, at the end of August, led to her daughter being taken to an out-of-hours service in Carmarthen, but a doctor was not available to see her.

Soon after she had an appointment with a CAMHS doctor, but the mother was disappointed it took danger to both their lives for this to happen.

“It shouldn’t take to that point to get an appointment with the CAMHS doctor,” she said.

The Community Connector service is aimed at reducing pressure on GPs The Community Connector service is aimed at reducing pressure on GPs

A visit to the doctor. PICTURE: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.

Her daughter has always lived with mental health issues, but at the start of 2018 they became more pronounced.

She suffers from anxiety, has intrusive thoughts, and has started self-harming.

Before the knife incident, the family had applied for two separate referrals for a mental illness diagnosis, but no record was kept of these applications.

Now, the mother hopes a referral made by the family social worker will allow her daughter to be diagnosed and receive help.

There is a family history of mental illness with ADHD and autism, and the mother has seen how sessions with a doctor have helped her brother.

At the same time, she is worried by letters from her daughter’s school, saying she is likely to be excluded and sent to a Pupil Referral Unit.

The mother has said she does not want to think about what could happen if her daughter does not get the help she needs.

“There is only so much I can do. I am stressed out, worried, I can’t sleep because of this situation.”

She added: “The Derek Brundrett inquest – that is quite close to home for my daughter. I don’t want to wake up in the morning to find my daughter dead.”

Fourteen-year-old Derek died in 2014 in the grounds of Pembroke School.

The inquest is ongoing, and the most recent hearing in October heard an assessment into his mental and emotional health could have prevented his death.

Kristina Wray with her son Derek Brundrett.

Pembrokeshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board both said they are unable to comment on individual cases.

Both authorities provided information about the services they can provide to children living with mental health difficulties.

What help can the local authorities offer?

PCC adheres to a Wellbeing Good Practice guide, section 9 of which outlines all support services provided to school age children who might need help with their mental health.

The guide describes how Pembrokeshire schools have a Team Around the Pupil, Parent and School for Wellbeing, known as TAPPAS.

This team includes the school nurse, educational psychologist, primary mental health worker and school counsellor.

Part of TAPPAS’s work is to “develop appropriately tailored local interventions for wellbeing and localised pathways for children and young people requiring specialised services.”

PCC has also just launched a new website and app telling young people how to access mental healt support services themselves.

Hywel Dda UHB receives referrals for its Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service at a single point to ensure a timely response from a qualified professional, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Following initial screening of a referral, the individual will be referred to the appropriate service.

“If clinically indicated we would also ensure any referrals for any additional assessments such as ASD or ADHD are co-ordinated and directed to the correct department within the Health Board,” a spokesperson said.