CAMHS

CAMHS teams bring together different professionals: nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and others. The NHS describes them as "a range of support services available to children and young people", covering advice and self-help, talking therapies, medicines where appropriate, and referral referral When a professional passes your child on to a specialist team for assessment or treatment. A GP, school or health visitor can usually make one. Read the full definition of referral on to other services.

They are generally for anyone under 18, and some services continue "up to the age of 25".

Getting in is usually through someone else: "A professional such as a GP GP Your family doctor. For many families the GP is the first person to talk to, and the person who refers your child on to a specialist. Read the full definition of GP , teacher, school nurse or social worker can put you in touch with your local children and young people's mental health services." The NHS also notes "you can also refer yourself to some services", so it is always worth asking.

CAMHS is used as a name across the UK, though how services are organised and who they accept varies by nation and by area. Scotland, for example, sets out a national service specification for CAMHS covering ages 0 to 18. In England the NHS increasingly uses the phrase children and young people's mental health services rather than CAMHS.

In some areas, autism Autism Autism is a difference in how the brain develops. It shapes how an autistic child sees and experiences the world, how they communicate, and how they respond to things like noise, light and touch. Read the full definition of Autism and ADHD ADHD ADHD is a difference in the way a child's brain works. It affects how they pay attention, how much energy they have, and how easily they act on impulse. Read the full definition of ADHD assessments sit with CAMHS. In others they sit with community paediatrics or a separate neurodevelopmental team. Ask which applies where you live.