CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) is an NHS service that helps children and young people up to 18 who are finding it hard to cope with everyday life because of difficult feelings, behaviour or relationships. Most of the time when we are sad, angry, stressed or worried these feelings pass within a few days, but if they go on for a while and stop us enjoying and coping with life, then it may be that you need some help. Just as we go to the doctors when we are physically ill, sometimes we need extra help with our mental health. This help could be from someone at school, a service in the community or CAMHS.
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) help children, young people and their families across Wiltshire who are experiencing more severe, complex and persistent mental health difficulties. Referrals can be made by a young person or family member or by a professional who knows the young person well, such as a teacher or GP.
If anyone living in Wiltshire with a Wiltshire GP wants to request a service from CAMHS, and are not currently open to a local CAMHS team, they should visit the Oxford Health CAMHS page via this link: Make a referral | Oxford Health CAMHSOxford Health CAMHS or call the Wiltshire CAMHS Single Point of Access on 01865 903 330 (Monday to Friday 9-5). Our website has links to good advice about mental health and ideas about how you can access help through a variety of services and resources such as books, apps and videos.
In an emergency – If you or someone else has seriously injured themselves, taken an overdose or are on the point of doing so
- Call 999 or
- Go directly to A&E
Need help fast
If it’s not a 999 emergency but you do need help fast you can:
- Call the children and young people’s mental health helpline 0800 023 2133 – open 5pm-11pm on weekdays and 9am-11pm at weekends. The person you speak to will ask you some questions about how you are feeling before deciding what to do next
- Contact your GP. You can ask your GP practice for an urgent appointment during opening hours
- Speak to an adult you trust
- Do let someone know how you are feeling. A parent or carer is often the best person, but you could also speak to your school nurse, a teacher or another trusted adult
- If you are already using CAMHS, contact us directly during office hours (9am – 5pm). We will talk to you about how best to meet your needs