If you are a parent of a child, or children, affected by mental health, and are struggling to access suitable support, not knowing who to turn to for help or guidance, there is help on hand in your local area. According to statistics, one in six children suffers with their mental health, with 75% of these children and young people not receiving the treatment they need (according to the Mental Health Foundation).
Founded in 2017, Assisting Parents of Children affected by Mental Health (APCAM) offers parents in West Oxfordshire a support network, and a potential lifeline for those in need. All regions within the UK have a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, however, only West Oxfordshire has APCAM; a service they are immensely proud to provide. APCAM focuses on providing a safe space to talk, be heard, be honest and air grievances without the worry of judgement or misunderstanding. All of those within their setting are there for the same reason – they are parents who have faced the same issues; if anyone will empathise with you, APCAM will.
Set up by parents of children who have mental health struggles, the people who work at APCAM know extremely well the complexities your child’s illness can bring and the difficulties you face in accessing support. When you are faced with not knowing what is best for your child, how to access treatment and having to face a waiting list up to three-and-a-half years long to be seen by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAHMS), your situation can become desperate. You may even find that waiting such a long time, ages your child out of the system and together you would need to start the process again with the Adult Mental Health System. During all of this time, your child’s mental health may deteriorate still further.
When APCAM was first set up, they began with a drop-in parent clinic; this has now expanded to offer bookable sessions with their on-site psychotherapist, in-school training, mental health first aid training and therapies for the children. Their work is partly funded by West Oxfordshire District Council and partly funded by donations, grants, and tireless fundraising efforts. They emphasise that APCAM is a not-for-profit organisation but has been established to be there for parents of children who need their help.
There are various ways you can reach out to APCAM…
The APCAM Clinic offers parents the chance to speak with people who understand what they are coping with. Whilst friends and family mean well and do their best, they are unlikely to understand what you and your child are going through. There are two Clinic sessions held each week at the Carterton Family Centre in the Allandale Centre, Buford Road, Carterton. Parents can come along and speak with APCAM advisors, at no cost to them. It is recommended, however, that parents come alone to make the most of the time there without distractions.
Clinic times are:
- Wednesday from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm for pre-booked sessions.
- Thursdays from 9.30 am to 4.30 am drop-ins.
- Evening Clinic is held the first Thursday of every month from 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm.
You can book a private session with their on-site councillor by attending a Thursday drop-in session and meeting an APCAM advisor in person. They’ll talk through your specific challenges, worries and/or emotions and arrange for you to be seen at a time that suits you. Alternatively, just turn up on Thursdays at the APCAM drop-in clinic. Everyone is welcome!
For further information please visit apcamgroup.org.uk or email Lizzie.Hubbard@apcamgroup.org.uk or call 07939344299/07766521443.
