A DESPERATE family are leaving the area for good in a bid to get regular help for their self-harming teenage daughter.

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Worried mum of three Claire Rush claims she has been embroiled in a seven month battle to secure an appointment for the 15-year-old with the Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service in south Cumbria.

After four referrals from her GP, the police and school since January, the youngster was finally offered an appointment last week.

Mrs Rush, of Newton Brow, in Barrow, was inspired to come forward with her family's story after reading about the launch of the Evening Mail’s Healthy Young Minds campaign last week.

But the 34-year-old, who has two other children, aged 13 and five, is now packing the family home ready for a move to Sunderland in a fortnight after a doctor told her a ‘fresh start’ could help her oldest daughter.

“We’ve been through hell,” she said.

“We found out she had been self harming for two years, cutting her arms and legs.

“The doctor referred her twice, the school have done it and so have the police.

“It shouldn’t take seven months to get an appointment.

“We’ve been so worried. She threatened to kill herself. We had to get the police involved because we didn’t know what was going to happen or what she would do.”

Together with husband Darrell, 51, Mrs Rush has lived in Barrow for seven years.

She believes her daughter, who she did not want named, has been feeling low and suffering from anxiety.

When the family considered relocating, a doctor said the move could offer a fresh start to the teenager, while Mrs Rush claims a member of the Camhs team told her mental health services for children and teenagers would be more readily available in other areas.

Mrs Rush has now leant her backing to the Healthy Young Minds campaign - adding she knows first hand the agony of waiting for specialist help.

"It's so important to make sure people can get help for their children. Waiting for an appointment is ridiculous."

However, a spokesman for CPFT said the organisation, which provides mental health services throughout the county, could not comment on individual cases.

She said: “We are unable to comment on any individual’s case but we are sorry if the service that this family has received has not met their expectations.

“We are happy to discuss this with them and if they would like to do this then we would urge them to contact our Patient Experience Team (PET) who will arrange a meeting.”