On Our Mind

Posted on 14 May 2024

For Mental Health Awareness Week we spoke to Emna, whose son Leo has received fantastic support from Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s CAMHS service, which she described as ‘life changing’.

“Leo first started having some issues when he was in year two (age 6), just before covid and lockdown. He started really struggling and having panic attacks and not wanting to go to school.  Leo first got referred for tests to check there was nothing physically wrong, but they couldn’t get to the bottom of things. Whilst going through this, Leo was diagnosed as having dyspraxia and having sensory processing issues.  Dyspraxia is a common disorder that affects movement and co-ordination. People with dyspraxia can also struggle with emotions.

Leo couldn’t use cutlery or a pen properly, and it was taking him such a lot of effort to do things. This was leading to him getting frustrated and tired. It was taking Leo a lot of effort to write at school and to fasten his clothes and shoes, and this was also leading to low self-esteem.

“When lockdown happened, Leo found that difficult and he became more withdrawn and wouldn’t come out of his bedroom. Leo didn’t want to go out, he wanted to spend more and more time alone. We were ever so worried about Leo.

“Leo was eventually referred to the CAMHS team, which is where we got to know Andy Dobb, Family Support Worker and Jill Baxter, Family Support Worker, who were both amazing. 

“Andy treated us with such kindness, compassion and respect from our very first meeting.  He immediately put Leo at ease and created a safe space for Leo to talk about how he was feeling.  Andy has a wonderful manner and a calm voice. Andy is very kind and professional, with a great sense of fun. He is obviously very passionate about his work and is dedicated to helping others. He was a breath of fresh air, and we are so lucky he came into our lives.

“We immediately warmed to both Andy and Jill, as they are such kind people. They are really good at speaking to young people, parents and carers, and they listen without judgement. Andy doesn’t take himself too seriously, he can have a laugh, when appropriate, which really helps sometimes.

“We started off with an anxiety gremlins group just after lockdown and that was done online, which was really beneficial. Andy and Jill know how to put children at ease which really helped, and they explained clearly what would happen at the sessions. It was a small group of six children, all had different issues and anxiety, and it helped me as a parent to know I wasn’t the only person finding it difficult, sometimes in these situations, you can think ‘am I doing something wrong’. For Leo it was nice to see it wasn’t just him finding things difficult. 

“We did the anxiety gremlins group regularly and Andy and Jill let the children take things at their own pace. They encouraged the children to think about the good things and not dwell on negative things and they taught coping strategies, such as frog breaths. They explained to parents what the symptoms of anxiety look like, for example, when children feel anxious, they might feel sick, there is not necessarily something physically wrong.

“They also educate parents as well because it can be hard to know what to say when your child is so anxious and upset. They were just so supportive. By the end of the anxiety gremlins group, we had ways for Leo to express more how he was feeling, and I was able to understand more how he’s feeling. Each week we would look forward to the session. It was also good to share experiences and worries with other families. There was an atmosphere of trust between everyone.

“It was great just to feel supported and not feel like you were on your own. The CAMHS team took time to get to know us and they were so empathetic and caring. Leo’s mood and anxiety got much better over the course of the group. 

“From there, Leo did the social skills group and Theraplay. The social skills group was just amazing for Leo. It was a small group and a really safe environment.  He went in by himself. We could wait outside, and any problems Andy and Jill said they’d come and get us. Leo loved the group and he used to really look forward to going. 

“They played games and Leo used to go in feeling happy and look forward to it. Leo came home after the social skills group like a different child, full of confidence and enthusiasm.  Andy built up trust with Leo through the activities. Likewise, at Theraplay where Andy encouraged me and Leo to participate in activities even though we were nervous. We attended Theraplay together, it was a small group with children of a similar age, it was nice as they had something in common.  They were all a bit quiet to start with, but towards the end of the sessions, they got comfortable and would chat and acknowledge each other.

“Andy was super perceptive and always took the time to speak with Leo to make sure he was ok. They’d coach Leo, full circle as to what was bothering him. They would give suggestions and advice and at the end Leo felt better and more positive. 

“They would also use things like story boards to talk through something and get Leo to draw things and Andy showed me how to do that at home. They were always introducing ways of communicating and understanding each other better. We still use some of the strategies now. It has been invaluable. All of it benefitted Leo. His anxiety improved and he’s feeling a lot better, supported and listened to. Leo’s school attendance has improved as well. We both feel really empowered, both more confident.

“Andy and Jill have had a massive impact on Leo’s life and it’s been really positive and helped us as a family. There are ups and downs, but I feel like Leo’s self-esteem is a lot better and his anxiety not as bad. When Leo does feel anxious, we definitely cope better than we did before.

“I would definitely encourage anyone struggling to get help from CAMHS. You can feel like you are on your own and like a failure as a parent. When I went to see our GP, they were very kind and listened and they referred us to CAMHS. I would definitely say ask for help and take help that is offered. In CAMHS there is a reason behind everything they do and you can really trust them. I’d advise parents to put any feelings of embarrassment and pride aside to reach out and get the help you need. It doesn’t need to be scary. CAMHS are trained and they are excellent with children, they don’t put pressure on you, and it is a non-judgemental safe space.” 

Andy Dobb said:

“As Family Support Workers, we often have the flexibility to take time with families and young people and facilitate them exploring their experiences in compassionate, trusting, and respectful environments. Not everyone needs the wrap around support offered to Leo and Emna, some need less, some need more, but Jill and I are proud to be able to support families to find solutions and understanding that work for them, or to be able to work within the larger CAMHS Team to signpost them to further treatment. This is particularly important when supporting our neurodivergent young people and their families, who require something a little more personal in order to help them through their challenges.”

Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are for people up to 18 years old in Nottinghamshire. If you are young person (12 to 18 years) or a parent or carer with a child between 0 and 18, you can self refer. You can find out more about our service here.