TABLE OF CONTENT
What is CAMHS?
Did you know in England around 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 25 had a mental health disorder.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is an NHS service in the UK that helps children and young people with their mental health and emotional well-being. It offers support for a wide range of mental health conditions, from anxiety and low mood to eating disorders and more complex needs. Parents, carers, schools and healthcare professionals can all play a part in helping a child to get the right support.
“Mental health problems are common and support works.”
— Professor Peter Fonagy, Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Researcher
Who is CAMHS for?
CAMHS is for children and young people who need help with their mental health or emotional wellbeing. In most parts of the UK, the service supports people from birth up to their 18th birthday. However, the exact range of age may differ slightly depending on the local NHS service.
A child does not need to have a diagnosed mental health condition before getting help. They can receive support if their feelings or behaviour are affecting their daily life, school, friendships or family relationships.
CAMHS may support both children and young people who have:
- Anxiety or constant worry
- Depression or ongoing low mood
- Panic attacks
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism-related mental health difficulties
- Trauma after abuse, neglect or a difficult life event
- Behaviour that is causing serious problems at home or school
What can CAMHS do?
CAMHS helps children and young people to understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The aim is to improve their mental health and help them to enjoy their everyday life again. Every child is different, so the support they receive is based on their own needs.
A mental health professional will first talk to the child and their family. They will ask questions about how the child is feeling, what challenges they are facing and how these problems affect their daily life. This helps the team decide what type of support will be most helpful.
Depending on the child’s needs, CAMHS can:
- Assess mental health and emotional wellbeing.
- Create a personal care and treatment plan.
- Offer one-to-one or group therapy.
- Help children to manage anxiety, stress and low mood.
- Give advice to schools on supporting the mental health of a child.
- Refer children to specialist services if they need extra care.
- Support young people with eating disorders or self-harm.
- Work with families to improve communication and relationships.
What treatment and support do CAMHS offer?
Child and adolescent mental health services provides different types of treatment because every child has different needs. Some children benefit from talking to a therapist, while others may need family support, creative activities or specialist medical care. The treatment plan is based on the age of the child, symptoms and overall mental health.
Some of the treatment types are mentioned below:
1. Talking Therapies
Talking therapies help children and young people to speak about their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a safe place. A trained therapist listens carefully and teaches practical ways to manage emotions and cope with everyday challenges.
Common talking therapies include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Counselling
- Interpersonal therapy
- Behavioural therapy
2. Creative Therapies
Some children find it easier to express themselves through creative activities rather than talking. Creative therapies allow them to share their emotions in different ways.
Creative therapies may include:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Drama therapy
- Play therapy
3. Family therapy
Mental health issues can affect the whole family. In this case, family therapy brings family members together to improve communication, solve problems and support the recovery of the child.
During family therapy, everyone can:
- Share their thoughts in a safe setting.
- Learn better ways to communicate.
- Understand each other’s feelings.
- Work together to support the child.
4. Medication
Medication is not usually the first treatment offered to a child. In many cases, talking therapies and other support are tried first.
If medication is needed, a doctor will explain the following:
- Why the medicine is needed.
- How it should be taken.
5. Specialist care
Some children need extra support because their mental health condition is more serious or complex. In these situations, CAMHS may provide specialist care through a team of expert doctors.
Specialist care may include:
- Eating disorder services
- Crisis support
- Intensive community treatment
- Inpatient care for children who need hospital treatment
- Support for complex mental health conditions
How do I get help from CAMHS?
If you think your child needs mental health support, there are step-by-step guide to get help. In most parts of the UK, CAMHS accepts referrals from healthcare and education professionals. Some local NHS services also allow young people or parents to refer themselves.
Here is a simple step-by-step process to get help from CAMHS:
1. Find Your Local CAMHS
The way to get help from CAMHS may be different depending on where you live in the UK. Visit your local NHS or CAMHS website to find details about the service in your area. You can also search online for “Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services” followed by the name of your town or county.
2. Get a Referral
Most CAMHS services need a referral before they can offer support. A referral can be made on your behalf by your:
- GP (doctor)
- School
- Another professional who is helping you
3. Wait to Hear from CAMHS
After your referral is sent, CAMHS will contact you by phone, email or letter. They may arrange your first appointment or ask for more information.
If you do not hear from them after some time, you or your parent or carer can contact the service to ask for an update. Waiting times can sometimes be long. While you wait, you can still get support from your GP, school, family or other local services.
Who Can Give Me Therapy At CAMHS?
CAMHS brings together a team of trained mental health professionals. Each specialist has a different role, but they work closely together to provide the best care for children and young people.
1. Psychologists and Psychotherapists
Psychologists and psychotherapists help children to understand their emotions and behaviour. In this process, they use evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to help children manage anxiety, depression, trauma and other mental health problems.
They also assess how thoughts and feelings of the child affect their everyday life and develop a treatment plan that meets their needs.
2. Family Therapists
Family therapists work with parents, carers, siblings and the child to strengthen family relationships.
They help families to:
- Solve conflicts.
- Understand each other’s feelings.
- Build healthy coping skills.
- Support recovery of the child.
3. Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They can diagnose complex mental health conditions, give treatment and also prescribe medication when necessary. They often work with other CAMHS professionals to make sure children receive the right care.
4. Creative Therapist
Creative therapists help children who find it difficult to express their emotions through words alone.
Depending on the needs of the child, they may use:
- Art
- Music
- Drama
- Play
Case Study
A teenager in the UK was diagnosed with anorexia, an eating disorder that made it difficult for him to eat enough food. At first, he did not believe he needed help. Their illness also caused worry and arguments at home because their family wanted him to get better.
The teenager was referred to CAMHS, where he received support from a team of mental health experts. He attended regular appointments and worked closely with his family throughout his treatment. However, with the support of the CAMHS team and his family, the teenager slowly became healthier. They gained more confidence and improved their eating habits.
Looking back, he said that accepting help was one of the best decisions he made. He also wanted other young people to know that recovery is possible and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Conclusion
Child and adolescent mental health services play a key role in supporting the mental health of children and young people across the UK. It provides assessments, therapies, family support, medication when needed and specialist care for a wide range of mental health conditions.
Every child has unique needs, so treatment is tailored to their individual needs. Getting help early can improve emotional wellbeing, strengthen family relationships and help children feel more confident in everyday life. If you are worried about your child’s mental health or their CAMHS journey, speak to Concise Medico for expert support and professional assessments.
