What is CAMHS?
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) is provided by NHS Forth Valley for children and young people aged 0-18 years. The team is made up of a range of different professionals who work together using the skills and knowledge of all the different professionals and disciplines, known as multi-disciplinary working. The strength of multidisciplinary CAMHS team-working is that distinct therapeutic approaches can be offered by utilising the different skills of each profession.
CAMHS multidisciplinary teams have expertise in the assessment, care and treatment of children and young people experiencing serious mental health problems. Specialist services for those at risk and with specific conditions are also provided. CAMHS works with and provides support to the wider system of mental health care for children, young people and their families within the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) model. So whilst some children and young people will need to come straight to CAMHS i.e. those requiring urgent mental health care, most will be referred when an intervention within primary care, education or a community-based service has not been enough.
