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15 - Who's who in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)

from Factsheets for young people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

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Summary

Where can I find CAMHS?

Services in CAMHS are organised into four tiers. Many people when they talk about CAMHS mean tier 3 services – the community CAMHS teams. But CAMHS professionals can work in one or more of the following places:

  • • community CAMHS clinics (also called tier 3 services)

  • • out-patient clinics or alongside paediatricians in general hospitals

  • • specialised in-patient, day patient or out-patient units (tier 4 services)

  • • in schools and some GP practices (tier 2 services)

  • • alongside Social Services or youth offending services (YOS)

  • • in children's centres.

  • In addition to offering appointments in the above places, some CAMHS professionals can see you at home if it is difficult for you to meet elsewhere.

    Who works in CAMHS?

    The different child mental health professionals in the team usually include:

  • child and adolescent psychiatrists – they are medically qualified doctors who specialise in working with young people with mental health problems and their families

  • clinical psychologists – they can assess and help with children's psychological functioning, emotional well-being and development

  • child psychotherapists – they are trained therapists who work with children helping to deal with their emotional and mental health problems

  • family therapists – they are trained therapists who work with children and their families together to help them understand and manage the difficulties that are happening in their lives

  • social workers – they are trained to help children and families who need extra support or help to keep them safe

  • mental health practitioners – they are usually trained in mental health and help in the assessment (understanding) and management of emotional, behavioural and mental health problems.

  • Some teams can have other professionals such as paediatricians, educational psychologists, art therapists, and speech and language therapists.

    All CAMHS professionals are trained and experienced in working with young people with mental health problems. They may also have some specialist skills, which they may use for specific conditions or treatments.

    What problems can they help with?

    Many children and young people are troubled by emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems. These can cause worry and distress both to themselves and to those who care for them.

    Professionals working in CAMHS deal with a wide range of mental health problems, including all those addressed in these factsheets and many more.

    Type
    Chapter
    Information
    Mental Health and Growing Up
    Factsheets for Parents, Teachers and Young People
    , pp. 45 - 46
    Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
    Print publication year: 2013

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