#CAMHSDontCareIfAutisticKidsDie The Reality of CAMHS for Autistic Kids

Today we ask something of you. If you have been failed by CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), if your child was turned away or harmed. Join us, post on Twitter/X using #CAMHSDontCareIfAutisticKidsDie. Strong words, but necessary, because the reality of being an Autistic child or young person experiencing a mental health crisis is that by their inaction or misinformed action, Autistic children and young people are losing their lives.

The Chilling Reality of No Support

The Royal College of Psychiatrists themselves have said that Autistic children are 28x more likely to think about or attempt suicide. Despite this, CAMHS will regularly turn our children away from their support, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. What's worse is that when Autistic children and young people do make it through the door, they are often met with treatment so inappropriate it can be life threatening.

What's more, as of October 2023, NHS Assuring Transformation data showed that 93% of under-18s detained on a psychiatric ward were Autistic. In the absence of support, children are dying and being locked away.

Inappropriate Support

Those who do get support will often be faced by professionals who do not understand autism, are overconfident despite their lack of competency, and will push tragedy narratives that alienate them from their own Autistic community. Various CAMHS websites demonstrate this through their websites, with some even recommending ABA providers. ABA has been shown in research to do harm to Autistic people that lasts long into adulthood.

Call To Action

Please. Join us and make the hashtag #CAMHSDontCareIfAutisticKidsDie trend online. It is time that we stop this from happening. We owe our children a world where they no support that helps exists. It's time we did our part in making that world.