This article was written by Kooth mental health writer, Georgia, and contains the following themes: CAMHS, mental health, assessments, preparation.

We spoke to Amber, a Kooth Team Manager, who has experience working with and alongside CAMHS in her work here at Kooth and in mental health. We asked her some questions that help break down what CAMHS is and how it might be helpful to you.

In this article, we will explore the following questions::

• What is CAMHS?
• What can CAMHS help me with?
• How do I get CAMHS help?
• How long will I have to wait to get help?
• Should I tell my friends about CAMHS support?
• What if I’m not offered CAMHS support?
• I’ve been put on a waiting list. How long is the waiting list?

Q: What is CAMHS?

A: CAMHS stands for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It’s a place where young people can go to get help with their feelings, emotions and any mental health concerns. They have a team of mental health professionals who are there to listen and support you through tough times.

CAMHS might be called different things depending on where you live in the UK. For example, in Wales, it’s commonly called Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SCAMHS). If you’re unsure, you can always ask your doctor, or a mental health professional like a school counsellor.

Q: What can CAMHS help me with?

CAMHS can support children and young people with a range of experiences and mental health problems. For example, if you experience:

• sadness, low mood or depression
• feelings of worry or anxiety
• low confidence and self-esteem
• problems with eating or your relationship with food
• problems with managing anger
• trouble sleeping
• thoughts about wanting to hurt yourself
• suicidal thoughts and feelings
• difficult feelings after a traumatic event

*Some CAMHS services might also be able to offer support with neurodiverse conditions such as autism and ADHD.

How do I get CAMHS help?

“There are a few different ways to get help from CAMHS. Usually, you need to be referred by a professional like a doctor, social worker, school counsellor, or another mental health professional. You can also talk to your parents or another trusted adult and ask them to help you make an appointment.”

How long will I have to wait to get help?

“Waiting times can vary depending on how busy your local CAMHS is and how urgent your situation is. CAMHS try their best to see young people as quickly as possible, especially if they need urgent help. If you’re worried about waiting, you can always ask your parents or another adult to follow up and see if there’s anything that can be done to speed up the process.”

“Waiting can feel really frustrating, so here’s a few things you could in the meantime:

• Keep a diary to track any thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Not only can this help you to make sense of how you feel, but it can be a helpful thing to share with a CAMHS worker or any other professional supporting you.
• Get support from Kooth. Chat to a practitioner, use the discussion boards, or read through useful content.
• Practice self care. This sounds like an obvious one, but practicing some simple self care such as doing things you enjoy, getting enough sleep, and even remembering to drink enough water can help you feel much better, and also remind you to take good care of yourself especially if things feel difficult.”

Should I tell my friends/ family about CAMHS support?

“That’s completely up to you! Some young people find it helpful to talk to their friends about getting support from CAMHS, while others prefer to keep it private. It’s important to do what feels right for you. Just remember that getting help is nothing to be ashamed of, and it’s okay to reach out for support when you need it.”

What if I’m not offered CAMHS support?

“After your referral, sometimes CAMHS may decide that their service isn’t right for you. This might be because they might not provide the type of treatment and support you need, they might not be able to offer you help right now because their waiting list might be too long for the type of urgent support you need.

This can feel really upsetting and frustrating, especially if you’ve already waited a long time and you’re not getting any support. If this happens, they should suggest other places you can go or things you can try that might help.

Remember, if you’re not offered support from CAMHS, it doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with you or that your feelings aren’t valid.

There are lots of other places where you can get help, like talking to a teacher, school counsellor, or another trusted adult. Don’t give up – there are people who want to help you feel better.”

I’ve been put on a waiting list. How long is the waiting list?

“The waitlist will vary across different services/areas and depends how busy the CAMHS team is. If you are on the waitlist and need support in the meantime, our team at Kooth can support you while you wait for your CAMHS referral or for your appointment to come through. If you want to talk to one of our team about anything at all, you can do that by heading to messages or live chat.” (You’ll need to log in or register for free first)

Have you got any final tips?

“While it can seem daunting at first, it’s important to try to engage with sessions as best you can. Remember, they are there to help you, so it’s important you do feel like you’re getting something out of it. If you find talking to someone hard, don’t be afraid to say it out loud. Mental health professionals often find this kind of honesty really helpful to work with (rather than taking it personally) as they can help you work through any barriers you might have.

Secondly, it is not always the case that the first professional you speak to is the right professional for you. If you naturally don’t click or feel uncomfortable in any way, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask to talk to someone else.”