All about CAMHS

What does CAMHS do?

Our Child and Adolescence Mental Health service (CAMHS) are here to support children and young people up to the age of 18 in Northamptonshire, experiencing difficulties with their emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties.  The team offer a range of interventions and therapies delivered individually or in groups, in partnership with families in a number of localities.

We offer:

• Mental health assessments or cognitive assessments
• Individual work with a range of professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists,  nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and psychotherapists
• CAMHS Live - helping you to access the mental health services you might need
• Consultation Line
• Children’s Response and Resolution Team.

How do I sign up to CAMHS?

Any professional that is currently supporting you can make the referral for your emotional and mental health wellbeing. This could be your GP, school nurse, school teacher, social worker.

If you are over the age of 13, you can also speak to us directly about getting support through our online chat .

You can access the CAMHS Live online chat tool by clicking here.

What happens at my first appointment?

Here at CAMHS we understand it can feel really scary coming for your first appointment. It’s normal to feel anxious and not knowing what to expect, we are here to help and ease those feelings. You will be greeted by one our friendly receptionists and asked to wait in one of our waiting rooms. Occasionally you may have to wait so please make sure you log on to our Wi-Fi (NHFT-Guest) so you don’t use up your data.

What happens next

During your appointment we will talk to you, to understand your difficulties. This is your opportunity to share how you feel and see if anything you have tried before has helped. Your clinician may want to speak to you alone during your appointment, or your parent’s/carer. Your appointment will last approximately 90 minutes and by the end of the appointment, you and your clinician will decide if a CAMHS intervention is appropriate for you.

Helpful tips to think about:

What do I want to get from CAMHS, think about what you are currently experiencing difficulties with? What do you want to achieve? What do you want help with?

What happens after my first appointment?

You will receive a letter detailing the outcome of your initial appointment. Depending on the outcome, the letter will include information on what to do next. If a CAMHS intervention is required, you’ll be given information on how to access your next appointment.

In the meantime think about what you discussed in your meeting and any helpful tips or tools in managing your difficulties. Try putting them into practice.

‘It’s okay not to be okay and it’s absolutely okay to ask for help’

What support do you offer?

The team are made up of specialist mental health practitioners with a variety of backgrounds to support you and your family. They offer a variety of therapeutic interventions to give you the skills to manage your difficulties. It will be to suit your individual requirements. We want to give you the tools and techniques to find ways to help you understand your difficulties and give you positive strategies in managing those difficulties.

Here are some of the therapeutic interventions we offer within our service, which may include: 

• Individual therapy
• Family therapy
• Therapeutic groups
• Psychiatry assessments
• Medication prescribing and reviewing.

You may also just come to CAMHS to see our medics.

We work in a multi-disciplinary team with a variety of professionals all trained in mental health interventions and are all here to help support you in your journey to recovery through CAMHS.

And don't forget...

Here at CAMHS we understand it can make you feel really anxious about coming in for your appointment. It is really common for you to feel this way. If these feelings are getting in the way of you attending, then we can arrange for you to speak with the team beforehand. Please discuss this with the secretary when calling to book.

 You can access helpful tips and videos on our CAMHS Toolbox webpage which can be accessed by clicking here.

Need to talk?

CAMHS live is an online chat service available Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm. If you are a young person aged 13 and over you can use it to discuss any concerns or difficulties you may be having with your emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Or call the consultation line on 0800 170 7055.  This service is available Monday to Friday between 9am to 7pm should you need to speak to someone.

What do others say about CAMHS?

Here is some feedback from other young people who have worked with our team:

‘Someone actually listened to how I was feeling and they didn't assume and they supported and explained to me how to help myself’

‘Fab course lots to take in’

‘Had a good laugh, thank you very much’

‘Everyone got to share their own ideas and feelings. Small group so not too intimidating’

‘This was an extremely useful thought provoking and surprisingly fun day! Thank you’

‘Very kind and informative. Really interesting and understanding’

‘I could relate to people and I now have coping mechanisms. Talking about certain topics - social media and school’

"Kind. Respected. Friendly."

"Understanding and commitment of the staff member to listen to our needs. Always thinking of new ways to help."

Moving on from CAMHS

Becoming an adult is a crucial stage of your social, personal and emotional development when we all need to pay close attention to your individual needs. This may also at this time when you move on from CAMHS.

Flexibility about the age at which you move to an appropriate adult service is based upon your individual needs. In some cases, completion of a current plan beyond your 18^th birthday may prevent the need to move to an adult service.

For some young person who first have contact with CAMHS in the six months prior to their 18^th birthday, and who are likely to require longer term support, you may begin seeing an adult service straight away.  

Regardless of which service you are moving on to, that service should get to know you beforehand and a plan should be in place to ensure the move happens as seamlessly as possible.

The plans should be:

• In your best interests and involve shared decision making
• Undertaken collaboratively and in partnership with the service and yourself
• Planned, structured and timely
• Embedded in the involvement of all agencies and staff involved in your care
• Take into consideration the needs of carers.

If you have any questions or concerns please talk to a member of the CAMHS team.