Stories from young people who have used our services

"I sat there, mentally repeating the words 'please don't say it's us'. Roughly 90 other people were probably repeating the same words as me. Nobody wanted to go up on stage and present to three classes of roughly 30 people. My heart skips a beat before speeding up. It's us. "Do we go up now?" my friend asks him. He nods. I didn't expect this. I'm going to have to go up on stage in front of 90 people, speak loudly and clearly, speak a little bit of French and be judged by people who would decide whether or not we won. I followed my team through the sea of of tables and up the stairs to the stage. We got ready and set up our presentation. Our poster held up in front of us facing the audience and the script above it, facing so that we could read it. I focused my eyes on the script, preparing myself. 'Ready?' my friend asked. I nodded and we started. When it came to my turn, I put my hand in my pocket and felt the stone (my grounding object) there and prepared myself for that strange feeling of disconnect. But it never came. I stood there, my mind and body connected, both of them still there in the moment. I was focused on the script and how well we were doing instead of how many eyes were watching. And I stayed there, shaking and sweating like crazy. But I didn't space out. The it was all over. We finished. We'd done it. All of us had done it. we didn't win, but I'd accomplished something huge, overcome one of my biggest barriers with a loud voice and speaking French. And that felt so much better than winning because I'd already won one of the battles in the my mind, and I'll hopefully go on to win the war. Thank you, Vasiliki, for enabling me to do something incredible. For helping me to stand up in front of 90 people, present and not space out. Everything we've done has helped so much and look what we have achieved! So thank you for everything."

"I don't know if I have told said this to you but I love writing letters to people. This is probably the hardest one I've ever written though. I've never had to write a goodbye letter before. I just wanted to thank you properly for everything you've done for me over the past year and a half because I could never articulate my gratitude. I was in such a low place when I first started seeing you and honestly I thought it was pointless at first. I was so determined I was doomed, I'd lost all hope, but you gave me a place of safety and no judgment. I don't think I ever understood how much of an impact a conversation could have. I am so sad that I won't be able to see you again, so all the best wishes for your future. You deserve all the happiness in the world. I'll never forget you. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

“I can’t thank CAMHS enough for their services to me, it has changed my life and I have made progress I never thought possible. The people here are truly angels. They care and want to help you. They are amazing at their jobs and if you receive support from CAMHS you are extremely lucky. This process will be a challenge but you couldn't be in better hands. They tailor your experience individually to you, based on what you need. After being referred when I was younger, I re-referred myself at a later point in my life and it has to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. Thank you CAMHS.”