CAMHS Talk

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

In this CAMHSTalk Podcast, our Service User Participation Lead Niki Scott talks to Lydia Rosseter from Cambridgeshire Community Services, Lisa Leonard, head teacher of The Chiltern School and Marcia McKnight from Central Beds Council. We talk about how co-production enables, empowers and supports better outcomes for children, young people, families and professionals in Central Bedfordshire. https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/133/improving_send_services/833/progress_so_far/4 https://centralbedfordshire.app.box.com/s/jh8bak7040ixeyz8hs9xhk9cf8hc1ata

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

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.

The first in a three-part series discussing the effects of COVID 19 and lockdown restrictions on the wellbeing of young people. As lockdown restrictions began to ease, hosts Aisling and Ava were joined by Professor Tamsin Ford, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and an internationally renowned child psychiatric epidemiologist. Listen to find out what all that means, and hear us discuss the data around how the wellbeing of young people has been affected by the pandemic and the support available to young people.

Throughout lockdown, Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS have experimented with running groups virtually. One of the most successful formats has been virtual group creative sessions. These have built on the principles of art therapy and brought young people together to make art via Zoom. In this podcast, the staff and young people involved in a group that ran at the start of the year discuss how the sessions worked and what we got out of attending.

In this episode, we talk about how some of our service users had the opportunity to work with IntoFilm, an organisation who ‘put film at the heart of the educational and personal development of children and young people.’ Over the course of 7 weeks, we attended film making workshops that taught us what is involved in film making, how to develop characters, write scripts and plan our camera shots to produce a film together about mental health. Not Alone follows 3 young people’s different mental health struggles, united by the fact they are not going through them alone. From exam stress, to anxiety, and fear of isolation: the young people all experience varied personal struggles and have different ways of coping. Through exploring these difficult feelings, they realise that they are not alone in these experiences. This film was made as part of the Into Film Moving Minds 2 Filmmaking Project. Young people aged between 11 and 19 were given the opportunity to work with professional filmmakers to devise and create their own short film. Watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/506015431 Find out more about IntoFilm here: https://www.intofilm.org/

In this episode, Aisling is joined by professionals and young people to discuss the mental health benefits of physical exercise. We discuss the pressure to exercise in lockdown, some of the barriers to exercise we have encountered the past year and the pros and cons of the options that are available to us online. Today's episode is hosted by: Aisling Callaghan - User participation lead for Luton CAMHS We are joined by: Jade Horsley who is the Satellite Club Link Officer for Team Beds and Luton Rob Lindsay, Sports Development Officer for Bedford Borough Council Racheall Monton, yoga instructor Claire Rourke- Clinical Trial Manager, Ready Trial, University of Hertfordshire, Molly- CAMHS service user, Sam- CAMHS service user. Links to the organisations mentioned in this episode.. https://readytrial.co.uk/ - Research study of Physical Activity in Yung People https://bedfordsportlive.crd.co - Bedford Sport Live - Activity sessions at home. https://camhsspace.crd.co - CAMHS Space - Delivered by Bedford Borough Council in partnership with East London Foundation Trust CAMHS team and supported by Team Beds + Luton

In this episode, Nikki and Aisling talk to Jay and Suzie - two of our service users about how Autism and anxiety can make the Christmas period difficult. Come and listen to Jay and Suzie share their thoughts and tips on how to manage and make Christmas fabulous..

Christmas is a time of celebration, a time where most families plan for weeks so that the two or three days of Christmas goes perfectly.. the perfect presents, perfect company and perfect food. Most of us look forward to this festive time, but for some, it's filled with fear and anxiety. In this episode, Nikki talks to Jay and Roshni, two of our service users talk about how celebrations such as Christmas, Diwali end Eid can be difficult for those with an eating disorder due to the strong emphasis on food and eating. Mark Taylor, a CAMHS Clinician and Specialist Eating Disorder Nurse joins the conversation along with Hope Virgo - a UK Eating disorder campaigner, author, public speaker advocate to share their knowledge and expertise. Hope leads the campaign to 'dump the scales' - a campaign to increase access to eating disorder services in the UK This is a perfect opportunity to come listen in on the discussion and hear honest accounts of how such celebrations present challenges, how you can get your way through the day and how dinnertime bingo can get you through.. Yes.. I did say dinnertime bingo.. listen in to find out to learn about this and other tips for the day.. If you'd like to learn more about Hope's campaign, find out about how you can invite her to speak publicly at your event, or learn more about her publications, go over to her website:  http://www.hopevirgo.com/ You can also follow her on Twitter - @HopeVirgo Follow CAMHS Talk on Twitter - @CAMHSTalk.