Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service’s (CAMHS) Muaither Complex 2 provides mental healthcare to a large number of patients up to the age of 18 every month, it was announced yesterday.
The centre supports parents of children affected by mental health conditions and changing how mental health is viewed in the community. 
CAMHS, part of HMC’s Mental Health Service, opened its Muaither Complex 2 in April last year. Presently, the facility receives between 20 and 35 referrals a week.
One young patient who is benefiting from the expanded outpatient services is Maria (not her real name), who was born five years ago without any known mental health condition. Maria ate normally as a newborn and toddler, but in July last year she began refusing to swallow solid food. 
After seeking medical attention, Maria was diagnosed with a form of mental illness called food anxiety, a complex eating disorder that can have severe physical and emotional consequences if left untreated. 
“An eating disorder is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in their eating behaviour, such as an extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating. Eating disorders commonly co-occur with anxiety disorders. For those who have an anxiety disorder, a co-occurring eating disorder may make their symptoms worse and recovery more difficult. It’s therefore essential to treat both disorders,” explained Dr May Jassim al-Muraisi.
In recent years, HMC has made significant expansion to its child and adolescent mental health service through the development of a community-based outpatient and daycare programme. Inpatient services for children and young people who require more intensive treatment have also been expanded.
According to Maria’s parents, her problem began with a sore throat that prevented Maria from eating properly for a few days. Once her throat recovered, she continued to be afraid to eat; fearing the pain associated with swallowing would return. 
“It is not that if you put something in her mouth that she would spit it out, she would not even try to taste it. She was afraid to eat. We tried everything. We tried to force her and threatened her. We even tried leaving her alone, thinking she was just being a picky eater. Nothing we did would work,” said the mother. 
“We got a referral to CAMHS and were lucky to get an early appointment. Later Maria’s case was diagnosed as food anxiety,” the couple explained.
Dr al-Muaisi pointed out that Maria’s case was just one of the complex mental health cases affecting young children, received at CAMHS on a daily basis. “It is a good thing that the parents realised there was a problem and they sought medical assistance. We recognise the importance of ensuring the confidentiality of their medical condition to prevent any stigmatisation or incorrect perceptions within the community.”
Access to HMC’s community-based mental health services for children and adolescents is by referral from a Primary Health Care Corporation centre, private clinic, or an HMC service, such as the Paediatric Department at Hamad General Hospital or the Mental Health Service.
CAMHS operates routine clinics all days of the week, except Wednesday. The service’s users include children with varying types of mental health disorders and conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder as well as other psychological and physiological problems.