Glossary
What is CAMHS?
Also called: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CYPMHS, children and young people's mental health services, CAMHS referral, CAMHS waiting list
Definition
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) are the NHS services that assess and treat children and young people up to 18 with mental health difficulties; some areas now call them CYPMHS.
What it means
CAMHS is a broad name for NHS mental health support for under 18s. It is often described in tiers or levels. Some support happens in schools through Mental Health Support Teams, some is with community teams of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and therapists, and a small number of young people need inpatient care. Some areas have renamed services Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, or CYPMHS, but it is the same kind of service.
Referrals usually come through a GP or school, and some areas accept referrals from parents or young people directly. Each team decides who meets its threshold, and waiting times for non-urgent cases can be long. In many areas, neurodevelopmental assessments for autism and ADHD are run by a separate pathway.
What it can look like for your child
Your child might be offered an initial assessment appointment, then treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy, family work or medication reviewed by a psychiatrist. Sometimes the referral is declined and you are signposted elsewhere. If your child is at risk right now, go to A&E, call 999, or use NHS 111 and choose the mental health option.
How counselling can help
Private counselling does not replace CAMHS for serious or urgent mental health needs. It can support children whose difficulties don’t meet the CAMHS threshold, or who are waiting. If we think your child needs more than counselling, we will say so and help you seek a referral. Some children see CAMHS for one thing, such as medication, and see us for weekly sessions, in which case we can link up with the team if you agree.