Category Archives: Access to services

Episode 39 – Autism in Females and Those Assigned Female at Birth

October 25, 2022Access to services, Autism, CAMHS, Community Services, School Support, SEND, Special educational needsMarianne Bahadur

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:10 — 29.0MB) | Embed

Co-hosts Marianne and Kim are joined by three young people, Maddie, Sam and Zoe, with lived experience of autism to discuss the misconceptions of autism in females and those assigned female at birth, experiences at school and tips on how to better support people with autism. They are also joined by Tyrone and Freya from the Mental Health Schools Team who work with young people in schools.

Abbreviations used throughout
ASC: Autism Spectrum Condition
ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder (Old Term)
MHST: Mental Health Schools Team
EHCP: Education, Health and Care Plan.
TA: Teaching Assistants

Immie Swain: How to spot signs of Autism in pupils https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8hrFwfhwNw

The Times Educational Supplement: ‘Lack of teacher training ‘hitting autistic pupils’ education’
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/lack-teacher-training-hitting-autistic-pupils-education

[00:00:22] Introductions
[00:06:06] Misconceptions of Autism in Females
[00:11:19] Masking
[00:14:43] The Effects of Age of Diagnosis
[00:18:07] Autism Diagnosis and School Support
[00:23:30] Strategies for coping with Autism
[00:30:40] Sensory Overloads
[00:35:00] Bullying
[00:40:18] Special Interests
[00:43:04] Outro

Episode 36- Living with Depression

April 25, 2022Access to services, CAMHS, CBT, DepressionMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:01 — 44.2MB) | Embed

Trigger warning: This episode explores depression and references suicide, please look after yourself and exercise self care when listening.

In this episode, Niki and Aisling are joined by Keeley, Ashleigh, Jay and Shana to discuss depression. We talk about our experiences of depression and how it has impacted our lives, including masking our feelings and symptoms our friends and family noticed. We also share helpful ways we have found to cope, what people can do to help and support, and our experiences accessing therapy and medication.

Niki Scott- CAMHS Participation Lead
Aisling Callaghan- CAMHS Participation Lead
Keeley- CAMHS service user
Ashleigh- CAMHS service user
Shana- ex CAMHS service user
Jay- ex CAMHS service user

Episode 35- Living with Dyslexia

April 11, 2022Access to services, Art Therapy, Special educational needsMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:05 — 31.0MB) | Embed

In the latest edition of CAMHSTalk, Aisling is joined by Saskia, Shana and Kat to talk about dyslexia. We discuss what our dyslexia looks like, experiences of getting diagnosed and how it has impacted education. We also talk about all the things we are able to achieve as a result of our brain working slightly differently.

Aisling Callaghan- CAMHS Participation Lead
Kat Fusco- Professional Lead for Arts Therapies for CAMHS
Shana- CAMHS service user
Saskia- CAMHS service user

Episode 33 – User Participation and co-production

December 19, 2021Access to servicesCAMHS, Service userMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:46 — 24.8MB) | Embed

In the latest edition of our CAMHSTalk podcast Niki Scott, CAMHS Participation Lead is joined by Shana, Lucy, Safa and Molly for a discussion about participation and coproduction. In a bid to encourage other young people to get involved and have their say, our service users talk about the projects they have been involved in and how they have benefitted from having a platform to share their views and opinions.

Episode 30 – Digital diagnosis and neurodiversity

August 25, 2021Access to services, CAMHS, Community ServicesASC, CAMHS, ELFT, Luton and Bedford, neurodiversityMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:38 — 32.1MB) | Embed

Professionals, parents and young people across Bedfordshire and Luton have joined forces to utilise their expertise and collaborate in the development of a co-produced ‘Diagnosis Support Pack’ – a one stop place for information, support, guidance in multi media format in the lead up to, or following a diagnosis of a neurodiversity. In this podcast we discuss how, why and what the diagnosis support pack is all about and the journey that went in to its creation.

The Diagnosis Support Pack can be found here: https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/beds-luton-community-paediatrics/diagnosis-support-pack

Episode 29 – The effects of COVID on welbeing..

August 22, 2021Access to servicesAnxiety, CAMHS, COVID, ELFT, Luton and Bedford, Service userMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:44 — 36.8MB) | Embed

Join us for our third and final instalment in our series looking at the effects of COVID 19 and lockdown restrictions on the wellbeing of young people. Following our discussions with Professor Tamsin Ford and Doctor Uttom Choudhury, we ask the young people themselves about what it has been like for them since March 2020. Aisling is joined by Nada, Chloe and Richie to discuss their experiences.

Nada- Assistant Psychologist, Luton CAMHS
Richie- CAMHS service user
Chloe- CAMHS service user

Episode 28 – Transitions

August 20, 2021Access to services, CAMHSAccess, CAMHS, ELFT, Luton and Bedford, Transitions, trustMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:10 — 28.2MB) | Embed

In this episode, Aisling was joined by Chloe, Molly, Freya and Lorna to discuss transitions. Freya and Lorna share their perspective as professionals in our Mental Health Support Teams, and Molly and Chloe share their own experiences as young people currently experiencing transition. We discuss why experiences like moving house or changing school can be challenging, and share tools and advice we have found helpful.

Episode 26 – Bedford Borough summer of SEND

July 9, 2021Access to services, CAMHS, Community ServicesAccess, Bedford Borough, CAMHS, COVID, Education, ELFT, local offer, Lockdown, Luton and Bedford, SENDMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:34 — 24.2MB) | Embed

In this episode, Niki talks with Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum, Chief Education Officer Ben Pearson, Councillor James Valentine and our Local Offer Officer about the Summer of SEND. After a really challenging 16 months for families and young people, Bedford Borough have organised a fantastic and engaging summer of events and activities. SEND is everyone’s responsibility so listen in to see how you can GET INVOLVED.

Here’s the link to the Summer of SEND page on the Local Offer website:

https://localoffer.bedford.gov.uk/kb5/bedford/directory/site.page?id=Iuldx0e38aA

Twitter handles:

Bedford Local Offer – News and events for children and young people with SEND in Bedford Borough and their families. RT does not mean endorsement. Replies during office hours.- @bedfordlocalof1

BBPCF – An independent forum for parent carers of children & young people with disabilities or SEN to participate in developing and influencing local services. @BedsBoroughPCF

James Valentine – Labour Councillor for Kempston West, Lead Member for Education & Children’s Services, Bedford Borough Council – @JamesEValentine

Episode 25 – The effects of lockdown on mental health. A discussion with Dr Uttom Chowdhury

June 28, 2021Access to services, CAMHS, Community ServicesCAMHS, COVID, Luton and Bedford, Service user, Social media, Tic disorder, Tics, TourettesMark Taylor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:09 — 18.0MB) | Embed

The second in a three-part series discussing the effects of COVID 19 and lockdown restrictions on the wellbeing of young people. Aisling and Ava met Doctor Uttom Chowdhury, an expert consultant child and adolescent psychiatric who specialises in neurodevelopmental disorders and works at CAMHS. We discuss how the pandemic has affected people’s wellbeing with a particular focus on tics and Tourette’s and Uttom shares his words of wisdom and support for families.

CAMHS Talk

A series of interviews and discussions brought to you jointly by the Luton and Bedfordshire Service User Participation Group and the Luton and Bedford CAMHS Team. Both are part of the East London NHS Foundation Trust.