Black Country Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Welcome to Walsall CAMHS!
Walsall CAMHS:
Walsall CAMHS is a specialist mental health service, commissioned to provide interventions to those children, young people and their families who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. We currently support young people up to the age of 18 with a GP registered in the Walsall area.
You can view our Walsall CAMHS Service Leaflet here: Walsall-CAMHS-Service-Leaflet-June-2023.doc
You can download our Walsall CAMHS Information Leaflet here: Walsall_CAMHS_Useful_Information_Leaflet_V1_Nov_2023_PDF.pdf
Under 5's Service:
The CAMHS Black Country Under 5s Service offers specialist treatment to parents aimed at improving the wellbeing of children under five years old.
All sorts of things can affect parents’ relationship with their child, from a complicated pregnancy or difficult birth, or family relationships to changes at home.
Many children will have difficulties as part of ordinary development, but if problems start to take over everyday life, or parents feel they are not enjoying parenting, or struggling to parent their child, then they may find it helpful to speak to someone from the Under 5s service.
The team consists of child and adolescent psychotherapists and other Under 5s CAMHS professionals who meet with families in their local CAMHS clinic.
We can offer joint sessions with parents and their baby or child together to support their relationships, help parents understand how the world appears from their child’s perspective, or address any other concerns parents may have.
The CAMHS Under 5s is not a diagnostic service, nor do we offer behavioural management or parenting training. If the primary concern is about neurodevelopmental, a referral should be made to Child Development Centre.
Our Referral Process:
When an appropriate referral is received, we will offer the young person an initial assessment appointment, which provides the young person, and family, and carers, to explore their mental health needs with a CAMHS clinician. At the end of this appointment, it may be that a specialist mental health service is not appropriate, and we can therefore discuss alternative options, and support the referral process to such services where possible. If it is felt CAMHS would be helpful, we will discuss appropriate interventions and support with the young person and their family. In cases that are deemed appropriate for therapeutic intervention, young people are allocated a clinician and regular appointments to undertake this. Our work aims to promote the positive mental health of children and young people in Walsall.
Our Referral Criteria:
Specialist Mental Health Services (Getting More Help)
Across the Black Country, specialist mental health services are provided by Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
The service provides specialist assessment and treatment for children and young people who have severe, complex and enduring emotional / behavioural / mental health difficulties
ACCESS:
- Referrals will be accepted for children and young people who are registered with a Black Country GP up until their 18th birthday.
- It is an essential requirement that consideration has been given to the young person accessing Getting Advice/Signposting and Getting Help services before a referral is accepted into CAMHS.
STANDARD CRITERIA:
The following general categories describe the children and young people who will be accepted for assessment and treatment, where their difficulties are leading to significant functional impairment:
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Emotional and behavioural disorders
• Conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder
• Psychotic Disorder in young people under the age of 14
• Suicidal ideation
• Moderate to severe Deliberate Self Harm
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Neurodevelopmental conditions (where there are co-morbid mental health needs)
• Post-traumatic stress disorders
• Complex Bereavement (where there are mental health difficulties)
• Somatising disorders
• Presentations that could be described as emerging personality disorder will probably be accepted under mood disorder, suicidal ideation and self-harm.
CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES:
If there is evidence of comorbidity with a significant mental health condition (as detailed above), we also offer support for children with moderate to severe learning disabilities. Referrals to this service are via CAMHS SPA.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARE:
The service offers specialist consultation, assessment and treatment for children and young people in care who present with severe, complex and enduring mental health needs (as detailed above). Referrals for this population should be initiated by the social worker with an accompanying ‘additional information’ form. Children and young people in care should be seen in the area in which they reside, dependent on commissioning arrangements for specific services.
ALL AGE EATING DISORDER SERVICE:
Referrals for suspected eating disorders should be made directly to the All Age Eating Disorder Service.
EARLY INTERVENTION PSYCHOSIS SERVICES:
Young people over the age of 14 who are presenting with psychotic disorders should be referred directly to the Early Intervention Psychosis Service.
What to do in an emergency?:
If your child’s life or the life of another child is in immediate risk or
danger call 999.
If it’s not a 999 emergency you can call 111.
If the emergency is related to a young person’s mental health then CAMHS can be contacted 01922 607 400 (9am-5pm)
NHS 111 offer a telephone support line where children, young people and families/carers can access advice and support from a CAMHS healthcare professional. This can be accessed by calling NHS 111 (option 2)
Useful Resources and Help lines:
NHS 24/7 Mental health telephone support 111 (option 2)
Young Minds: 02073 368 445 or
Samaritans: 08457 909 090 or
MIND Information Line: 08457 660 163 (self-help books are also available)
Youth Access: 02087 729 900
BEAT: 08088010677 or www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
SHOUT: Text Shout to 85258
Papyrus/HOPELINEUK: 0800 068 4141
Autism West Midlands: 0121 450 7575 or https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/
ChildLine: Tel: 0800 11 11
Kooth: Kooth.com
SENDIASS: family-action.org.uk
House on the Corner: thehouseonthecorner.info
WPH Counselling: www.wphcounselling.org
School Nursing: School Nursing – Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Service Leaflets
Referral Forms
Walsall CAMHS would love to hear your feedback!
We would like to hear about your recent experience of our services. To access an online feedback form please scan the QR code (below) via your mobile phone.
If you would prefer to speak to someone about your experience, or receive a paper form to complete, please get in touch with our Service Experience Desk on 0800 587 7720 or email
You can also provide feedback via our CAMHS Feedback form, available on this website. Visit the link to share your thoughts, feelings or experiences on your recent visit to CAMHS: https://www.blackcountrychildrens.nhs.uk/camhs/contact-us/your-ideas-and-feedback
WYSA
Wysa is a wellbeing AI app, free to download on Google and Apple Stores.
Young people from Walsall can download the app using the QR code below and enter the code BCWA2023 for free premium access. (Some smartphones may automatically apply the premium access code after the QR is scanned)
Wysa can help with feelings of low mood, stress and anxiety.
