Welcome to CAMHS
Need help now?
If a child or young person needs help now, contact NHS 24 (111) or in an emergency, go to the closest A&E department. Alternatively, contact Childline (0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk) or Samaritans (116 123 or www.samaritans.org/).
What is CAMHS?
CAMHS is a service for children and young people up to 18 years who are experiencing persistent, complex or severe mental health difficulties.
If you have been referred to CAMHS, please have a look at Coming to CAMHS.
If you are a parent or carer and have concerns about your child's mental health, please contact your health visitor, school, GP or other professional involved with your family.
What does CAMHS do?
CAMHS is a multi-disciplinary service which includes Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mental Health Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Child Psychotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Systemic Psychotherapy, Art Therapy and Social Work.
The CAMHS teams provide specialist assessment and a range of evidence-based, therapeutic interventions to individuals, groups, families/carers and wider support networks depending on the presenting need. CAMHS also provides consultation and supervision to professionals who support children and young people with mental health issues.
CAMHS offers specialist assessment and interventions for complex mental health difficulties that often overlap, these can include:
- acts of self-harm and/or thoughts of suicide
- eating disorders and disordered eating such as food restriction, self-induced vomiting, purging or significant reduction in body weight
- extreme distress or acute agitation
- increased, persistent anxiety
- persistent mood disturbance
- persistent, obsessive or repetitive behaviours that interfere with daily function
- unusual behaviour or confusion, “voices” or other abnormal experiences/disturbed thinking