How to get help from CAMHS - for 11-18 year olds

This page will help you to understand how to get help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS, or SCAMHS in Wales). It explains how to make a referral and how to make the most of your appointments.

What's on this page?

Jump to information on:

More info about CAMHS

We have more information about:

What CAMHS do
What treatment and support they offer
What to do if you're on a waiting list
Your rights at CAMHS
Leaving CAMHS

Go to CAMHS information hub

It was so freeing to have a space for an hour where I could talk about anything and not feel judged or like I had to hide how I was – Rebecca, 17

How do referrals to CAMHS work?

One of the most common ways to get a referral to CAMHS is through your GP. Other professionals might also be able to refer you. Like school staff, crisis teams, Mental Health Support Teams or social workers.

Some CAMHS accept self-referrals. This can be from you, or your parent, carer or guardian depending on your age.

Most local CAMHS have their own website where you can find out more information. If you're not sure how to get a referral, ask a trusted adult for help.

After CAMHS get your referral, they'll contact you by phone, text, email or send you a letter. This might be to book your first appointment or to ask more questions.

How can I find my local CAMHS?

In England, search for ‘child and adolescent mental health services’ or ‘children and young people′s mental health services’. Add your county, town or postcode too.
In Wales, visit the website of your Local Health Board.

In some areas, your local CAMHS may have another name. If you're not sure, you can ask your GP or a trusted adult.

In England, you may also hear CAMHS called:

Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS)
Specialist CAMHS or Specialist CYPMHS

In Wales, they′re also called Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SCAMHS).

Watch video: CAMHS explained

Watch our animation to understand how to get help from CAMHS.

You'll learn about how referrals work and what to expect from your first appointment.

Who needs to know about my CAMHS referral?

It depends on your situation. Parents, guardians or carers are usually involved in your care at CAMHS. But this depends on:

How old you are
Your mental health needs

If you don′t want your parents, guardians or carers to be involved, talk to CAMHS during your referral.

But CAMHS may invite your parents or guardians to your assessment. Or they may need to talk to them about your care. This is because CAMHS have to follow rules to keep you safe. You can find out more about confidentiality and when CAMHS might need to break it.

Other people that might need to know or be involved include:

Your GP
Other healthcare professionals within CAMHS
School staff or social care workers

CAMHS will usually ask for your consent to share your information with anyone else.

How do assessments work at CAMHS?

Your first appointment at CAMHS is usually called an assessment. Before your assessment, someone from your CAMHS team will ask you the following:

To fill out some forms about what you′re experiencing. These will help your team understand how you′re doing, and track your progress if you start treatment. Sometimes they'll use the forms for research or to improve services. You can ask your CAMHS team how they plan to use your answers.
If you′re happy for your parent, carer or guardian to join the appointment, or for information to be shared with them.

During your assessment, your team are likely also to ask you about:

Any history of mental health problems or difficult experiences that have affected you
Any changes in your sleep, eating or activities
Any problems at school or at home recently
Who′s in your life and your relationship with them
Things you′d like help with
How you think CAMHS could help you
Your medical history, or if people related to you have any health problems

After your assessment, your team will talk and decide if they can offer you support. If they can, you may have to wait a little while before you start getting support.

Your team should let you know how long you might have to wait. Or you can ask them.

In my initial assessment, they really took time to get to know me and understand how I felt. I wasn′t rushed, and we spent upwards of an hour discussing my life and how my anxiety was impacting me. They truly took time to understand my needs so they could recommend me the best course of care – Evan, 18

What could I ask in my assessment?

You can also ask CAMHS about anything you're unsure of, like:

What should I expect from CAMHS?
How many appointments might I get?
How long will I be on the waiting list before I get treatment?
When might I leave CAMHS?
What if I turn 18 during my time at CAMHS?
What treatment or support can CAMHS offer me?
How might certain treatments help me?
What do I do if I need urgent help?
How can I look after myself?
Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

Don't worry if you forget to mention something. You can ask questions at any point during your time with CAMHS.

The first appointment can feel scary and overwhelming. Remember CAMHS want to work out what the best support is for you.

If they think they can help, they'll work with you to decide what you might need. Or they′ll be able to suggest other services that could help you better.

What happens if I get a diagnosis?

Depending on your experiences and symptoms, you may get a diagnosis after an assessment at CAMHS.

If you get a diagnosis, your CAMHS team should talk to you about the treatment and support available. They should give you space to ask questions and suggest things that might help. This might include different therapies, helplines or support groups to try.

Remember: you don′t need a diagnosis to get help. There are people you can open up to and places you can look for support.

More info about diagnosis

We have more information on understanding diagnosis, including what they are and what to do if you don′t agree with your diagnosis.

Go to diagnosis info

I was nervous about starting CAMHS as I was scared I wasn′t ill enough. When I got there, it ended up being the first time I was taken seriously. I felt like I was totally alone until I spoke to the first psychologist who listened and really took me seriously – Molly, 18

What do CAMHS appointments look like?

Appointments with CAMHS are usually around 1 hour long. They take place during Monday to Friday, from the hours of 9am to 5pm.

Your appointments might be face-to-face, by phone or video call.

Face-to-face appointments might be in a CAMHS building, at school or somewhere else. It might help to plan your journey, if you need to use public transport or find somewhere to park.

When, where and how often you have appointments depends on your needs and what your local CAMHS offer.

If you're not comfortable with the type of appointment you're given, you can ask for one that works better for you.

You can ask to:

Change your appointment type, like meeting in person or online
Change the time or date
Have your appointments in the same place where possible
Have reasonable adjustments, if you have a disability

You can contact the receptionist or the person who your appointment is with. Let them know what you'd like and why. You can also ask a trusted adult or advocate to help you do this.

The receptionists at my location were incredible, I have a lot of anxiety speaking on the phone but they were always patient whilst I stuttered and resolved things quickly for me. Plus they welcomed me cheerfully to all my appointments and made me feel comfortable – Evan, 18

How to make the most of your appointments at CAMHS

It might help to be prepared before your appointments at CAMHS. You don't need to do lots of preparation. Especially if you don't feel well enough, or the idea of it makes you feel stressed.

Before your appointment, it could help to do the following:

Write things down. Try writing what you've been feeling or experiencing, any changes you have noticed between appointments, and questions you want to ask.
Think of ways you want to share. You might prefer to read out something you've written down, talk freely, or maybe a bit of both.
Talk to people you trust. Tell them how you're feeling about your appointments and how they can support you leading up to it.
Plan ahead. Think of what you need to do to be ready. This could be knowing who you're meeting, where you're meeting and making sure you've got what you need with you.
Bring something comforting with you. Like a fidget toy or special object, that can help you relax.
Be as honest as you can during your appointment. You can talk about what support feels right for you. Or if you′d prefer some time without parents or guardians in the room, let them know.
Try to make time for things you enjoy. Think of how you'll take care of yourself before and after. For example, you could meet a friend or play video games afterwards.

Remember: These sessions are your space to open up. CAMHS are there to support you. You can find out ways that work for you.

It is OK to be honest and vulnerable. It is the strongest thing you can do. It is not your job to please your therapist, they are not there to be validated, they are there to help you – Chloe, 17

You are the expert in your own brain, so make sure to advocate for yourself and if you can′t do that, find someone that does – Ella, 17

What if CAMHS isn't the right service for me?

After your referral or assessment, it might become clear that CAMHS isn′t the right service for you right now. This might be because CAMHS don′t provide the treatment and support you need.

You might feel upset or frustrated, especially if you′ve already waited for a long time. The team should suggest other places that might be able to support you better or things you can try that might help.

Or you might want to consider private therapy. Private therapy is a type of support that you, or a trusted adult, can choose to pay for.

You can find other places that can help on our page about where to look for mental health support.

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