Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999
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Specialist CAMHS (which stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) is the name given for the NHS service for young people (up to the age of 18 years) who need more help with their mental health.
Lots of young people feel worried, sad, stressed or overwhelmed at different times. Many can get help from:
• Friends and family
• Their GP
• A school nurse or counsellor
• Online support (like YoungMinds, Mind, Childline)
• Mental Health Support Teams in schools
But sometimes the problems last longer or start affecting school, home life, friendships, hobbies or your mood. When this happens, CAMHS can offer more specialist help.
CAMHS supports young people who have moderate or serious mental health difficulties, such as:
• Depression
• Anxiety, phobias or panic attacks
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Psychosis
• Self-harm linked to any of these difficulties
• Assessing and diagnosing neurodevelopmental conditions
CAMHS works with you, your family (if helpful) and sometimes your school. They help you to:
• Set goals and think about changes you’d like to make
• Notice your strengths
• Learn skills to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings
• Understand your needs and feel confident asking for support
• Use therapies or treatments that are proven to help (like CBT, family therapy, DBT and sometimes medication)
CAMHS is made up of different teams, including:
There is also an inpatient unit called The Beacon for young people who need short-term care in hospital.
After you’ve been referred, you will usually be put on a waiting list for an assessment. An assessment is a chance for CAMHS to:
• Get to know you
• Understand what you’re finding difficult
• Decide what type of support might help
This just a conversation not a test and you can ask questions too. Click here to learn more about what happens when you’ve been referred to CAMHS.
If you’re under 16, CAMHS may invite your parent/carer. If you’d rather come alone, you can tell them.
Support may be:
It depends on what support you need.
Click here for information created by CAMHS to support you while you’re waiting.
CAMHS has a few different buildings where appointments take place, known as bases. You’ll be told exactly which base to go to, and it will be written on your appointment letter. Click here to see where you might be seen.
You can ask for help yourself by filling in an online self‑referral form. Click here to view the My Self Referral page, where these online referral forms are. You can refer yourself for help with:
A team called Triage and Navigation will look at your form and decide which service is best for you – this might be CAMHS, Relate, Mental Health Support Teams, or another support service.
Some conditions cannot be self-referred and need a GP referral. These include:
You can also get support from:
We have written a series of self help guides covering a wide range of topics such as depression, anxiety and stress which offer you the opportunity to find out more about the causes of mental health issues and provide tools to work through feelings and emotions.
Created by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for young people – This space brings together helpful information about CAMHS, along with resources made by the CAMHS team specifically for young people. It’s here to support you manage your mental health.
Tellmi allows an online safe and anonymous space for young people to discuss their feelings, seek support and receive counselling when necessary. It is available 365 days a year.
Togetherness offers a range of accessible learning pathways to help everyone understand more about:
Access code: CURVE
Did you know that you can call or text your school nurse for free and confidential advice and support? The Healthy Together Helpline allows you to chat on the phone to a school nurse or qualified health professional who will give you free, confidential and easy to access advice and support. It is open to anyone aged 11-19 living or going to school in Leicester.
Simply call 0300 300 3001. Calls will be answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays.
Young people in Leicester City can also speak to a school nurse by texting the Chat Health service on 07520 615386. The service is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm throughout the year, excluding bank holidays.
Click here to learn more about getting help with your mental health.
You can watch our video to learn where you can access mental health support:
If you need urgent mental health support, 24/7 support is available over the phone. Call NHS 111, selecting mental health crisis option 2. This number is open 24 hours a day and is totally free and confidential. You can also text 0748 063 5199 and we will reply to you. If there is an immediate threat to life, dial 999.
If you are deaf and have urgent mental health needs, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service: www.signvideo.co.uk/nhs111
Please note the NHS 111 line is not an emergency service. https://111.nhs.uk/
Where there is an immediate, serious and life-threatening emergency, call 999 or attend your local Accident and Emergency. Click here to see when you need to go to A&E.
