Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

CAMHS provides short to medium term specialist mental health care for 0-18yr olds (or those still attending school) and their families/caregivers, experiencing acute and complex mental health challenges resulting in a significant impact on their daily functioning. A comprehensive assessment and formulation is completed to ensure a thorough understanding of the young person and their family's presentation. Provision of care can then be delivered individually, family based and/or in a group format. Interventions are targeted and tailored specifically to meet the needs of the child/young person and their family/caregivers.

Care is flexible, adaptable, and clinicians respond to children and young people in their schools, homes, communities and when required, in hospital-based treatment settings.

What to expect?

Our multidisciplinary team will collaborate with the consumer, their family, and their carers to match and provide the most appropriate care. We offer comprehensive assessment, advocacy, counselling, group programs, and other services. This includes:

• Individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy
• Referrals to other community health care providers
• Linkages to school‑based supports
• Home visits in some circumstances
• Arranging family‑focused support for consumers with moderate and severe mental health difficulties that are non‑life‑threatening (non‑acute)
• Pathways to specialist programs such as:
  • Getting on Track (GOT It) – for children aged 5–8 years or enrolled in Kindergarten to Year 2
  • Perinatal Infant Mental Health Service (PIMHS) – for women and families affected by severe and complex mental illnes

Resources

• Planning Together for Safety and Support -A guide on how to engage a student in their safe return to school through ongoing collaboration with their family, the school, and external mental health supports.
• Planning Together for Safety and Support: how to video - A practical video to support schools in implementing the suggestions and approaches outlined in the above resource.
• School Refusal: Every School Day Counts - A resource developed to assist education staff and families in identifying and supporting children and adolescents who are avoiding school due to mental health difficulties.

Contact your local CAMHS service to discuss referral pathways and criteria.