General Info about CAMHS
CAMHS is the name given to Child and Adolescence Mental Health Services in Somerset, Cardiff and the rest of the UK. They are aimed at 0-18 year olds and can involve professionals with many different qualifications and skills. There are different levels of CAMHS services that adults talk about:
- Tier 1: Keeping young people emotionally well
- Tier 2: Emotional and mental ill health
- Tier 3-4: Severe emotional and mental ill health
At what is called ‘Tier 1’ level they can include:
- G.P’s
- Health Visitors
- School / Community Nurses
- Youth Workers
- Charities eg MIND
- Newly created posts of Emotional Health Workers
- Mentors
- Teachers
The aim of Tier 1 CAMHS is to keep a young person well. They focus on helping young people in ways that stop them becoming unwell. An example of this is to stop a minor problem escalating into a more serious problem. Within Tier 1 CAMHS a young person will hopefully get whatever help they want or need. This could be through education, basic advice and support, or a preventative group.
If a problem did become more serious then a young person may be referred for help from CAMHS Tiers 2-4.
See our Info about Specialist CAMHS and People You May Meet guide for more information about what is known as ‘Specialist CAMHS’ Tier 2-4.
- Tier 1: Keeping young people emotionally well
- Tier 2: Emotional and mental ill health
- Tier 3-4: Severe emotional and mental ill health
CAMHS’ advice to any young person who is worried about their emotional or mental health would be – ‘Talk to anyone you feel comfortable with!!!’
We help young people age 6-19 in Somerset and Cardiff to get their views heard on issues affecting their emotional or mental wellbeing. Our service is free, independent and confidential.