Child & Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS)
Oaktree Connect private psychiatrists and psychologists are here to support young people during this crucial time of life
What is CAMHS?
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It is a service that provides mental health treatment and support for children and young people up to the age of 18. The Oaktree CAMHS teams includes private psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists who can together provide a range of services, including mental health assessments online, therapy, medication, and support for families and carers.
Emotionally and physically, this stage of life is that of changes: new prospects, performance pressures, and transitioning from childhood to adulthood. CAMHS aims to help children and young people who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, or eating disorders.
For some adolescents, it may be better to see a general adult psychiatrist. If you or your loved one is between the ages of 16 and 18, and you are unsure whether they should see a CAMHS clinician or a general adult clinician, contact us or consult your GP.
Oaktree Connect are here to offer a variety of assessments, treatments and support for young people. All our child and adolescent practitioners have years of experience, with young people’s brain development in mind.
Prevalence of Mental Disorder in the UK
10% of 5-16 year olds have a diagnosable mental health disorder.
Prevalence of Mental Disorder in the World
20% of 12- 18 years olds experience mental health difficulties per year.
Lack of Support for Children & Families
No support for 70% of young people with mental health difficulties.
Child & Adolescent (CAMHS) Psychiatrists
CAMHS psychiatrists are trained to assess mental and emotional disorders and how these affect the young person in their day to day life. They would discuss the disorder or emotional issues with the young person and their parents or carers. Our psychiatry and psychology consultants have years of experience and will make effective recommendations and care as part of a comprehensive care plan, tailored to the needs of the child.
An early assessment and diagnosis is critical to prevent long term adverse effects of these issues on the neurodevelopment, thinking, feelings, behaviours and personality in general. Although problems may continue into adulthood, treating them in childhood itself is beneficial to the young person and their confidence.
A psychiatrist may refer you to a CAMHS psychologist, who will be able to provide psychological treatments, such as CBT therapy or family therapy. They may also refer you to seek social treatments for children living with autism or ADHD, for example. These are particularly helpful to help you improve your skills in social situations.
How will the process work with Oaktree Connect?
We believe in a multi-disciplinary approach to mental health care so we have a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and administration to ensure that your experience is streamlined and as simple as possible with us.
At Oaktree Connect, you can have an assessment with a psychiatrist, where they may or may not reach a diagnosis. If a diagnosis is given, they will recommend a treatment plan and might refer you to one of our psychologists.
Assessment
A mental health assessment for CAMHS involves a comprehensive evaluation of a child or young person’s mental health and wellbeing. The assessment is usually conducted by a an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist.
During the assessment, the child or young person and their family or carers will be asked a range of questions about their mental health, medical history, family history, and social circumstances. The assessment will also involve observation and psychological testing.
The purpose of the assessment is to identify any mental health difficulties the child or young person may be experiencing and to determine the most appropriate treatment and support.
Diagnosis
The practitioner makes a diagnosis using various methods, including psychological questionnaires and diagnostic criteria set out by the International Coding systems.
If your practitioner gives you a diagnosis, they will explain its meaning and implications with you in detail and are able to answer questions you may have about why they made that diagnosis.
Investigations
Investigations such as imaging, blood tests, and psychological questionnaires, give more information about your condition. Although psychiatric diagnoses may be made exclusively through clinical interview(s), physical investigations can help rule out physical disorders which may be causing symptoms similar to mental disorders. Blood tests provide information as to how your organs are working and your blood sugar levels, for example. They are usually carried out before commencing medication to ensure that there are no issues with vital organs, which could worsen with the medication. An MRI may be carried out to look at the way your brain is functioning.
The psychiatrist will develop a care plan in collaboration with the child or young person, their family or carers, tailored to meet the individual’s needs.
It may include a range of treatments such as:
Psychological therapies: These are evidence-based psychological therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, which can help children and young people to manage their mental health difficulties.
Medication: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help manage symptoms of mental health difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD.
Support for families and carers: The practitioner will offer guidance to families and carers, to better understand and manage their child or young person’s mental health difficulties.
Education and training: Provided to children and young people, families, and carers, to help them understand mental health and develop coping strategies.
Referral
Following on from the completion of your assessment, you will receive a report from the clinician within 7-10 working days. The report is likely to include many aspects discussed during the assessment and will conclude with the diagnosis and treatment plan (if they were given). With your consent, the report can be shared with your GP.
Referral to other services: CAMHS may refer children and young people to other services, such as specialist mental health services or social care services, if additional support is needed.
Ongoing care
After a diagnosis of a mental disorder, a child or adolescent may receive ongoing care from a psychiatrist. The type and frequency of ongoing care will depend on the individual needs of the child or adolescent and the severity of their mental health condition.
Some examples of ongoing care that a child or adolescent may receive from a psychiatrist include:
Medication management: the psychiatrist will monitor the effectiveness of the medication and adjust the dosage or type of medication as needed.
Psychotherapy: The number and frequency will depend on the issues and their complexity.
Support for families: To the child or adolescent’s family to help them understand and cope with their loved one’s mental health condition.
Regular Follow ups: The psychiatrist may schedule regular appointments to monitor their progress and adjust their treatment plan as needed.
Overall, ongoing care from a psychiatrist can help a child or adolescent to manage their mental health condition and improve their quality of life.
How do I know if I need support from CAMHS?
When you feel you or your child may need support, you should seek advice from your GP, school SENCO, or social care. Typically, those services will be able to give you an indication of the support you may require.
A psychiatrist may refer you to a CAMHS psychologist, who will be able to provide psychological treatments, such as CBT therapy or family therapy. They may also refer you to seek social treatments for children living with autism or ADHD, for example. These are particularly helpful to help you improve your skills in social situations.
You can also use our Oaktree Assessment Tool for advice on which professional would be most appropriate for you of your child to see. It is not a diagnostic test. Our experienced Child and Adolescent team are here to support you and your child suffering from symptoms indicative of mental disorders.If you are still unsure about which clinician would be most suitable to book an appointment with, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Search for a Child & Adolescent Expert
At Oaktree Connect, we offer a wide range of psychiatric assessments online and treatments for several disorders. See below for information about specific disorders and their assessments.
Some of the disorders our clinicians are trained to assess in young people are Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and OCD. These are likely to present during childhood, rather than adulthood.Our experienced Child and Adolescent mental health team will help if your child is suffering from one or more of the following symptoms.
The disorders listed below are not an exhaustive list that our Psychiatrists and Psychologists are able to assess online and provide treatment and care for. If what you are looking for is not shown above, contact us and we will respond to your enquiry within one working day.
Our psychologists also provide treatment for psychological issues common in young people, such as anger issues, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, for instance.