This article was written by Vicki – a Kooth writer (she/her), and contains the following themes: mental health services, transitions, endings

If you’re in the care of a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) team, whether in the community or as an inpatient, you may be worried about what happens if you transfer to AMHS (Adult Mental Health Services).

Not everyone in the care of a CAMHS team will automatically be transferred to AMHS. Some people may be discharged, and some people may be referred on to other adult services, depending on their needs.

If you are transferring to AMHS, you may find that there is a waiting list, depending on the area of the country you live in and the service you’re waiting to be seen by – which may feel frustrating. It’s also natural to feel a bit worried when such a big part of your life is changing; finding out more about what to expect may help you to prepare for the transition.

We spoke to Charlie, one of our Senior Practitioners here at Kooth, about what to expect from your CAMHS and AMHS teams during this transition period. Charlie has extensive experience working with CAMHS and AMHS, in both community and inpatient settings. In this article, she answers the following questions:

1. What’s the difference between the care that CAMHS and AMHS teams provide?
2. What is the transfer process between CAMHS and AMHS?
3. What are some of the challenges people experience when transferring from CAMHS to AMHS?
4. Do you have any advice for someone who is about to transfer from CAMHS to adult services?
5. What would you say to someone who is worried about transitioning from CAMHS to AMHS?

1. What’s the difference between the care that CAMHS and AMHS teams provide?

CAMHS and AMHS teams are working with the same end goal: to keep you safe and help you be happy. The main difference is that when you are working with AMHS, you are an adult, which will naturally change how you interact with the professionals in the team.

If you’re an inpatient in a children’s ward, the staff can take on a parental role out of necessity because patients can’t see their parents daily. In adult wards, this doesn’t happen so much, as this kind of relationship with staff isn’t as necessary.

There might be less parental or carer involvement in decisions surrounding your care plan when working with AMHS. Different people may react to this differently. For some, this may feel daunting, while for others it may feel empowering.

Another key difference between adults and children’s wards is the age of your peers. While in a children’s ward everyone will be under the age of eighteen, in an adult ward your peers can be of any adult age.

Both community and inpatient AMHS teams will treat you as an adult when you work with them, which means you can have more say in your care. It may feel daunting to have the way you are supported change, but it does mean that you can have more input into your care plan – which can be hugely beneficial.

Depending on your area, different types of treatment and support may be available once you transfer to AMHS. You can discuss the different options with your CAMHS and AMHS teams when you are discussing your care plan, as they will have full detail of what is on offer.

2. What is the transfer process between CAMHS and AMHS?

Generally, discussions about the transfer will take place many months beforehand. The transfer process can take some time, particularly if there is a waiting list in your area. Transferring is a gradual process, and your team will do all they can to ensure you are comfortable.

The process itself depends on your care plan. It may be that you are discharged, in which case you wouldn’t be transferred to a new ward or hospital. If you are to be transferred to AMHS, this may be within the same hospital or a different one, depending on available services and space.

If you are staying in hospital as an inpatient and you are transferring to an AMHS, your care team would think about your care plan many months before the transfer itself. This team is usually made up of medical staff and therapists that you work with.

Your care team will usually try to arrange a lot of visits and meetings to your new ward before actually making the transfer, and your new ward will often invite you to participate in activities. For example, the occupational therapists might ask you to do an activity with the rest of the service users, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet your new staff team.

Similarly, if you’re working with a community team, you can expect to spend a lot of time with AMHS before officially transferring to them. You can also expect your records, such as your care plan, to be shared. Sharing your records means that staff in the new service have all the information they need to provide you with the best possible care.

You may get the chance to get to know the new people you will be working with before you switch to their care, and in the case of wards, get to know things like where your room is, and where the office is. Your CAMHS and AMHS teams will work together to make you feel as comfortable as possible throughout the transition.

3. What are some of the challenges that people experience when transferring from CAMHS to AMHS?

A challenge that many people experience when transferring from CAMHS to AMHS is the waiting time before starting work with their new care team. Unfortunately, in many areas of the country, there are long waiting lists to be seen by AMHS teams, which can be frustrating.

Another thing that people may find challenging is building new relationships. When you’ve been working with a CAMHS team for a long time, you will likely have formed close relationships with them. Working together for such a long time means that some people may find it tricky to develop new relationships and miss their old team.

It may also feel difficult to be treated as an adult once you move to AMHS. It may take time to adjust to changes like having different rules, laws, and legislations, as well as more input into your care plan.

4. Do you have any advice for someone who is about to transfer from CAMHS to adult services?

It’s easier said than done, but being ready to be open and transparent with your new team can make a big difference. Transferring to AMHS may be daunting, but if you can open up to the new staff members, there’s so much potential for you to build relationships that are just as good as the ones you had – if not better!

You may find it helpful to think about or write down the things that do and don’t work well for you when it comes to your care. If you can share this information with your new care team, this puts them in a much better position to give you the care and support you need from the start.

If you are an inpatient and have visits arranged to your new ward, as natural as it is to hold back, it can help to try to engage with the activities and the people you meet. It’s worth remembering that most people will be excited to meet and welcome you. If you can start building a relationship with the other patients before you transfer, it can help make the transition feel easier. The same goes for the staff. In particular, try to find your named nurse and talk to them – they’re there to support you.

However, if you don’t manage to establish relationships with the people in your new ward before transferring, try not to worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to build relationships once you’re there.

Looking after yourself throughout the transition

If you are finding the idea of transferring from CAMHS to AMHS difficult, here are some things that can help you during the transition:

• Reaching out to your current or new care team – if you’re concerned or struggling, your care teams will be able to listen and provide practical help.
• Talking to the team here at Kooth – you can speak to us by messages or live chat.
• Journaling – some people find that journaling is a helpful tool when they are experiencing difficult emotions; it can give you the space to acknowledge what you’re feeling and work through it.
• Engaging in hobbies and activities – devoting some extra time to doing things you enjoy throughout a difficult period may help boost your mood, and take your mind off of your worries.

5. What would you say to someone who is worried about transitioning from CAMHS to AMHS?

The main thing to remember is that the transition takes time, but it isn’t forever. Working with a new team will be different, and you may find the change unsettling. Feeling unsettled may impact how you feel about your new team or surroundings, but if you give yourself time to adapt and acknowledge your feelings, you will likely find that you can build great relationships and work well together.

Even though the idea of change may be difficult, it’s important to remember that the transfer is happening because your care needs are evolving as you become an adult. Moving to AMHS will mean you can receive the best care to meet your growing needs. You may be with a different team, but the end goal of working towards your happiness remains the same.