We offer CAMHS services to children and young people, from 0-18 years, living in Camden with a significant disability. The service aims to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families. There is a skilled workforce of doctors, nurses, psychologists, family therapists, psychotherapists and social workers, employed by the NHS and voluntary organizations. Their job is to assess and treat the full range of emotional and behavioral difficulties in childhood and adolescence. This includes emotional and behavioural difficulties in children who have special educational needs or disabilities through MOSAIC, the Integrated Service for Disabled Children and Young People.
Examples of problems that children and young people coming to our service are seeking help for include: anxiety, panic, fears and phobias, difficulties adjusting to new situations, depression, mood swings, aggression, challenging behaviour, hyperactivity and eating problems, sleep difficulties. There are a few children and young people who have severe mental health problems, and we can meet their needs too. Usually we do an initial assessment to understand what the problems are, what has caused the problems, and what can be done to help most effectively.
There are a wide range of different ways to help children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, including advice and support for parents, a range of types of counselling and therapy for children, therapeutic work with the family as a whole, working in groups to help children or parents with a range of difficulties that arise or working with school staff to support children and young people in school. Occasionally, if needed, medication can be prescribed. In general, our average treatment length is 6 months to a year, with about 6–12 appointments over that time period. Sometimes all that is needed is 2 or 3 assessment appointments, but treatment can be more intensive if needed (with appointments offered frequently) or longer-term.