Your experiences of CAMHS / mental health support and neurodivergence assessments

Please tell us about your experiences of accessing mental health support or neurodivergence assessments in the past two years. This will includes experiences of CAMHS and Right to Choose.

We are asking about neurodivergence and mental ill health as if they are separate things. However, we recognise that neurodivergent children and young people (or those waiting for an assessment) can also experience mental ill health, and indeed may be more likely to do so as a result of trying to cope in a neurotypical world.

We want to understand the experiences of young people and the impact of getting timely support for the whole family.

1. Have you ever tried to access any of the following? Tick all that apply

Mental health support
Assessment(s) for possible neurodivergence (autism, ADHD etc)
Other (please specify):

2. How old were you when you first thought you might have a mental health issue / be neurodivergent?

3. How old are you now?

4. If you did seek help, what was it for? (tick all that apply)

5. If you did seek help, who did you go to? (tick all that apply)

6. Did you get any support/an assessment for autism or ADHD? If yes, what happened?

7. If you got support, how did it help you and your family?

8. If you didn’t get support/a referral for an assessment, were you told you did not meet the criteria for a referral/support?

I did get a referral/support
I was told I didn’t meet the criteria
I was told because I am on the waiting list for a neurodivergence assessment, no other help is available
I couldn’t access support, but for a different reason
Not sure
Other (please specify):

9. If you didn’t get support/a referral, were you given any information about other organisations who could help?

Yes
No
Not sure
Other (please specify):

10. If yes, what information did you receive (eg leaflets, contacts details, information about courses etc) and how useful was it?

11. Were you put on a waiting list. If yes how long did you wait / have you been waiting?

12. If you are still on a waiting list, do you have an idea how much longer you will be waiting?

13. Did you trying to get help change anything for your family?

14. If needed, did you seek any further help/support or an assessment?

15. If yes, where did you go for help?

16. Did you get any support/an assessment on this occasion? If yes, what was it?

17. This time, did you get support/an assessment? What was the impact on you and your family?

18. At any point, did any other family members get support for their mental health and wellbeing or to help them support you?

Yes – my family was offered a lot of support
Yes – my family was offered some support
Yes – my family was given a list of other organisations who could help
No
Don’t know
Other (please specify):

19. What was good about your experiences?

20. What would have made your experience better?

21. What would a good mental health service for you look like?

22. Are there any things it would be helpful for us to know about you and your family? For example:

Do you or your parents/carers have any other health conditions?

Are you neurodivergent? Eg ADHD, Autism, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, other, diagnosed, on a waiting list etc

Are you adopted / fostered / in a kinship care arrangement?

Do you have any challenges with sleep?

Do you have any difficulties at school?

Please tell us more in the box below

23. Are you in contact with other services and support? (tick all that apply)

24. Do you think that services in York (schools, social care, CAMHS) work well together to support you?

25. Is there anything else you want to tell us?