Blog Post | King's Maudsley Partnership

Meet our volunteers: Irfan’s Story

by Admin | May 23, 2023 | Blog Post, News

South London and Maudsley’s CAMHS Mentoring Project is an incredible opportunity to make a huge impact in the life of a young person. Volunteers are matched on a one-to-one basis with a young person currently using Trust services and are able to have fun, talk and try new things with them – but more than that, they become an important part of their lives. Their presence provides much needed pastoral support as the young person discovers new skills and activities in the community. It’s an inspiring chance to be connected with someone, and to help them build confidence and resilience in themselves.

Irfan, currently a volunteer, shares his experience of the project and how he believes the programme can support young people with their mental health.

Irfan

CAMHS Mentoring Volunteer

The mentoring program has been an exciting journey for me. It has exposed me to different kinds of challenges and opportunities for me to learn and develop myself personally and professionally.

There are so many transferable skills that I have gained and being able to work with my mentee with ADHD has allowed me to build upon these skills, whilst continuing to give my best in supporting my mentee in navigating the challenges they face.

Because of the unique position we have as mentors, our relationship with our mentees are quite flexible. In achieving the goals and objectives set out at the start of the mentoring journey, it allows us to use personalised approached in navigating our relationship by drawing upon our personal experience and knowledge, allowing us to communicate with our mentee on a more personal level. They could learn from our experiences and make the appropriate decisions from there. That in itself is life-changing as we get to empower and equip them with the right information for them to take the next steps. And because we get to explore other fun activities like playing games, we get to have fun too! My mentee has a PS3 and Switch, and we would occasionally play them together.

My mentoring journey has been an exciting one, I learnt so much from it, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience to gain more skills and experience in this area.

You can find out more information on how to join the CAMHS Mentoring Project and other volunteering schemes the South London and Maudsley Trust has to offer: https://slam.nhs.uk/camhs-mentoring-project.

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Meet our volunteers: Beimnet’s Story

by Admin | May 22, 2023 | Blog Post, News

The CAMHS Mentoring Project matches volunteers on a one-to-one basis with a child or young person currently using one of our services. The pair meet regularly to access community activities together and build a relationship. Volunteer mentors are someone the service user can have fun with, try new things with, and talk to for informal pastoral support.

Beimnet, currently a volunteer, shares their experience of the project and how they believe the programme can support young people with their mental health.

Beimnet

CAMHS Volunteer Mentor

How long have you been a volunteer for the project?

I have been volunteering for almost 2 years now. I came across the program towards the end of my last year at uni as I wanted to help people struggling with their mental health and as my first experience working within the field I can say I’m glad I became a mentor and I would recommend it to anyone looking to support young people.

What have you learnt from the project?

As a mentor I have been able to build therapeutic relationships, develop my communication skills and learn from supervision – all skills that have allowed me to constantly improve delivery of sessions and my general approach in supporting mentees making progress toward their goals. Additionally, I have been able to use these skills in my work as a support worker and I will continue to do so throughout my career.

What type of activities did you do with your mentee? How do you think they benefited from the experience?

Above all, I have especially enjoyed taking part in activities with mentees. In my experience I have been able to use sports that mentees enjoy, to build rapport. Not only do I enjoy sport too, but it also allows for trust to be built and as a tool to create goals mentees can work toward in a way they find interesting, which I have also found to be key to engaging mentees.

Using this approach, alongside being empathetic and non-judgemental, will allow mentees to be themselves and enjoy improving their wellbeing. Therefore, I would recommend to anyone who wants to help young people and values these qualities to become a mentor.

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Meet the Team: Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND)

by Admin | May 19, 2023 | Blog Post, News

SCAAND is a specialist CAMHS Service and a recognised leader in mental health care for children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs. They provide outpatient mental health services for young people with a wide range of neurodevelopmental, neurological and genetic conditions and support for emotional and behaviour difficulties in the context of Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism), Intellectual Disability (ID), ADHD, Language Disorder, brain injury and epilepsy.

Dr Matthew Hollocks

Senior Clinical Lecture at the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Clinical Psychologist at SCAAND

What is your role within the King’s Maudsley Partnership?

As a clinical academic I work across both the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and the South London and Maudsley Trust and conduct research into common co-occurring mental health conditions that are experienced by autistic people. I also work clinically with this population.

In both parts of my job, I focus on finding ways to better understand and treat co-occurring mental health difficulties. I am particularly interested in how we can support children and young people who experience anxiety and depression through adapting existing psychological treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and developing new approaches that are more specifically designed for working with neurodiverse people.

What mental health comorbidities commonly occur with autism within children and young people?

Autistic children and young people tend to experience higher rates of mental health difficulties across the board. Anxiety is the most common, with around 40% of young people having at least one anxiety condition with social anxiety and generalised anxiety tending to be most common. Rates of depression and OCD are also particularly high compared to those without autism.

How do children with autism experience anxiety and how is it different from how neurotypical children might experience anxiety?

This is an area which is still being researched, but I think it is safe to say that it varies a lot depending on the individual. For many, their anxiety will be experienced similarly compared to those without autism, but difficulties with communication can mean it can be difficult to describe this to others and make sit much harder to find ways to cope. For others, the triggers of anxiety may be different, for example, with sensory differences making noisy or crowded spaces very anxiety provoking.

What is the partnership doing to support children through research and clinical work?

There is a lot of great clinical and research work happening across the Partnership to support autistic children with anxiety and other co-occurring mental health difficulties. For example, Professor Emily Simonoff and her group have developed Molehill Mountain, a self-help app for anxiety problems which is currently being trialled with young people. Across SCAAND we have been running several group interventions to support the development of emotion regulation skills, and another for autistic girls. One of my own recent projects has been to co-design, with autistic adolescents, an adapted intervention for depression which we have now piloted and hope to develop further.

For more information on the SCAAND Service, visit https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/scaand

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Meet our volunteers: Stephen’s Story

by Admin | May 18, 2023 | Blog Post, News, Pears Maudsley Centre

Stephen, currently a volunteer, shares his experience of the project and how he believes the programme can support young people with their mental health.

Stephen Ayayi-Brown

CAMHS Volunteer Mentor

What made you volunteer for the project?

I decided to volunteer as I’d like to have varied experience in the mental health sector. Additionally, I am particularly passionate about mental health in young people. I sought out volunteer opportunities online which is how I found this opportunity. I have been a part of the programme for 10 months now. Initially you have to attend a training session before you’re paired up with a mentee. The training was incredibly insightful and accessible.

What have you learnt during this experience?

I graduated from De Montfort University in the summer of 2021 with a BSc in Psychology. I currently work as a trainee Mental Health Wellbeing Practioner (a new psychological practitioner role introduced recently by the NHS). During the mentoring journey, I was able to learn a lot about OCD and Autism, as my mentee had both diagnoses. This was an invaluable experience, as I was able to apply theoretical knowledge I have previously acquired and also learn new information, while busting the many myths surrounding OCD and Autism.

How do you think your mentee has benefited from your mentoring?

I believe my mentee gained skills to make them more confident in social interactions/settings and gained advice on how to protect their mental health as they navigate the future.

How were you able to build a relationship with your mentee?

My mentee and I discussed many things. Our main topics of discussions were politics, social justice, history and social lives. We often met at my mentee’s house, but we frequently took walks for our sessions. We found that this provided a neutral environment that allows both of us to speak candidly. We also took the time to have fun and went to the cinema too!

I checked in with my mentor regularly by text message, even if we hadn’t scheduled to meet up. We both saw it as important to be accountable and this fostered a good relationship between us. To my surprise, we shared a lot of the same interests, so we got on straight away like a house on fire! That really helped the mentoring process as we were on the same page from the start.

Why should people take part in the mentoring project?

Aside from the fact that you will gain experience to add to your CV, the mentoring experience is incredibly rewarding. You’re given the opportunity to support a young person 1:1 at one of the most crucial times of their life. I think it’s even more important because young people who need support with their mental health can often feel ostracised and alienated. It was an amazing experience for me to be able to be there for a young person and provide them with a form of comfort and to make their life that much easier.

I would absolutely recommend this programme to other mentors. The experience you will gain is absolutely invaluable. It is amazing to connect with young people and to help them realise and actualise their own potential. It is such a rewarding feeling, and I would happily volunteer again.

Aside from supporting a young person with mental health difficulties, I was able to learn so much from my mentee. They were incredibly smart and their perspective on life was refreshing and really got me thinking. It was an intriguing experience indeed.

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Meet the Team: Southwark CWP Team

by Admin | May 18, 2023 | Blog Post, News

The Children and young people’s Wellbeing Practioners (CWP) Programme spans across all the four community boroughs served by the South London and Maudsley Trust (Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Croydon). The aims of the programme include providing a service to young people, parents and carers with close links to the local community, with focus on prevention and early intervention and to increase accessibility and see young people who might not meet the threshold for current CAMHS provision.

Felicia Oshin

Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

Who are the Southwark CWP Team?

Children and young people’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWP) for Southwark. We are an early intervention team who see parents of children and YP who might need some support with their mental health. Being an early intervention team, we aim to see young people and support them at an early stage to provide preventative support.

What interventions do the team offer?

We offer access to Guided self-help interventions which are eight sessions based on Cognitive Behavioural therapy principles, otherwise known as CBT. We do this by offering some education about what the difficulties are, introducing new ideas and arrange powerful coping strategies and also creating a staying well plan. These sessions will be collaborative between yourselves and your CWP, working together to help reduce the concerns. We hope to leave parents and young people with a toolbox of methods to help them.

Can CBT help with anxiety?

CBT sessions can be done on a 1-2-1 basis, but we can also offer workshops to support groups of parents or young people. Workshop topics cover areas such as how to deal with exam stress, managing anxiety relating to the pandemic, managing anxiety relating to transiting from primary school to secondary school, GCSES or A levels, and also a healthy self-esteem.

How can CWP support young people?

If you are aged between 12 to 18, the focus will be to meet with you rather than your parents. We can help with worries, or fears that are getting in the way of their day-to-day life, for example worries about academic performance, health, or social relationships.

We also see young people who are feeling low and unmotivated which may have had an impact on their sleep, activities, relationships or school and it may result in constant feelings of sadness.

Do you support parents too?

Yes! We see parents of children between the age of 5 and 11 years who’s fears or worries are starting to affect their daily lives. As well as parents with children aged between 5 and 8 years old who would like help on how to respond to their children’s behaviour such as temper tantrum or difficulties following rules.

What other workshops do you offer?

Alongside support with managing anxiety, we offer.

- - Self-esteem // body image / social media (for secondary school aged children)
  - Transitions (For Year 6, Year 7 or Year 11/12)
  - Low mood (Secondary School age)
  - Emotional regulation (for parents) Exam stress (Any secondary school year but most helpful for those doing GCSEs or A levels)

How can young people or parents access support?

If you would like to access support from Southwark CWP Services, talk to your local Children’s centre, GP, a member of school or college or professional in the community. Let them know you would like to access support from the Southwark CWP services, they will then make a referral to our service. Once we have received the referral, we will be in touch. Or you can access the referral form from our website.

Remember everyone deserves to be the best version of themselves and it is okay to not feel like it sometimes. We really look forward to working with you and we hope we can work together to support you.

For more information on the Southwark CWP Service, visit https://slam.nhs.uk/southwark-cwp

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CAMHS Body Dysmorphic Disorder: How this unique service is supporting young people

by Admin | May 16, 2023 | Blog Post, News, Pears Maudsley Centre

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition which is common in children and young people. It is a mental health condition where people spend a lot of time worried and upset over their appearance and spend lots of time trying to fix it. BDD impacts around one or two people in every 100 people and can be treated.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, the team at the BDD Clinic explain who they are and how they’re supporting young people at a time when the need has never been greater.

We are the Maudsley National and Specialist Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and related disorders service for young people. It is the only specialist BDD clinic in the UK for those aged 5-18 years old. We offer highly specialist assessment and treatment, as well as teaching and training.

Our clinic is made up of a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians with decades of collective experience in assessing and treating BDD. This includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and a parent peer support worker. We provide evidenced-based, NICE recommended psychological and pharmacological therapy including Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) medication.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

BDD is a common mental health condition and affects at least 1-2 per cent of young people. It is a psychological condition where a person becomes very preoccupied with one or more perceived flaws or defects in their physical appearance. These appearance concerns cause significant distress and lead to engagement in behaviours to try to ‘fix’ or hide the perceived flaw that are difficult to resist or control (e.g., frequently checking mirrors or seeking reassurance). BDD can seriously affect a person’s daily life, including school, social life, and relationships.

What other mental health conditions can commonly occur for young people with BDD?

Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Depression are some examples of commonly occurring mental health conditions. It is very common for people with BDD to feel anxious, depressed and suicidal and many sufferers experience low self-worth and low self-esteem.

How do young people with BDD experience anxiety?

BDD involves a cycle of anxiety where young people experience preoccupying worries about their appearance which cause strong feelings of anxiety, shame or sometimes disgust. These difficult thoughts and feelings lead to repetitive behaviours such as mirror checking, seeking re-assurance, hiding under baggy clothing, or avoiding leaving the house. These behaviours are often an attempt to try to fix or hide their appearance. These thoughts, feelings and behaviours can result in significant disruptions to a young person’s relationships, school, and home life. For example, feeling too anxious to leave the house without spending a long time on their make up or checking their appearance in the mirror.

How does the King’s Maudsley Partnership support children with BDD through research and clinical work?

Alongside evidenced-based treatment to support young people in overcoming BDD, we deliver a national teaching programme to raise awareness of BDD by highlighting the key signs and symptoms and the available treatment approaches. As a team, we also conduct a number of research studies to learn more about BDD and improve the treatments we offer. For example, we are currently researching how we can best adapt CBT for BDD for those with Autism Spectrum Conditions and exploring the role of difficult life experiences such as bullying in the development of BDD.

Once open, the Pears Maudsley Centre will accelerate research and clinical advancements with the closer partnerships that will form between the clinical and research groups.

How can young people be referred to your service?

We accept referrals from local CAMHS teams across the country. If you think you or someone you know might have BDD and would like advice please contact the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders CAMHS on:



020 3228 5222



ocdbdd.camhs@slam.nhs.uk



slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/child-and-adolescent-body-dysmorphic-disorder-service-102/

Please speak to your local CAMHS team if you would like to seek a referral to our service.

Are there any resources that can support parents and young people?

If you would like to find out more about BDD, we recommend the book ‘Appearance Anxiety’ by the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and related disorders service. Further information regarding our service can be found at: Service Detail – South London and Maudsley (slam.nhs.uk). You can also read more about BDD here: www.bddfoundation.org

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Meet our volunteers: Irfan’s Story

Irfan

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Meet our volunteers: Beimnet’s Story

Beimnet

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Meet the Team: Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND)

Dr Matthew Hollocks

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Meet our volunteers: Stephen’s Story

Stephen Ayayi-Brown

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Meet the Team: Southwark CWP Team

Felicia Oshin

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CAMHS Body Dysmorphic Disorder: How this unique service is supporting young people

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