CAMHS
What is CAMHS
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
It’s a service for children and young people under 18 and their families and it’s part of the NHS. If we are the best team to help you, Leeds MindMate SPA can make a referral to us.
During the coronavirus outbreak
We are continuing to respond to the Covid 19 (coronavirus) guidance which is set out by the Government.
Whilst we are continuing to maintain the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) where possible, however you may still notice some changes as safety continues to remain paramount and we want to keep families, children, young people and staff safe and well. This has included replacing most face to face contact with the offer of telephone or web based contact. Where face to face is absolutely required, we will do so with the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks/visors/gloves and within social distancing guidance. You will also be required to wear PPE for your appointment.
MindMate Single Point of Access (MMSPA) continues to accept and triage all urgent and routine referrals, including self-referrals and directing as required.
Leeds CAMHS Adolescent In-Patient Service at Little Woodhouse Hall continues to operate as normal, however changes to visiting permissions are in place. Please contact the unit for further details.
CAMHS Crisis Team, CAMHS Outreach Team and Eating Disorders Team, also continue to operate as normal, however changes to visiting continue to be in place and the use of PPE is required at all times. Please contact the unit for further details.
CAMHS Crisis Team, CAMHS Outreach Team and Eating Disorders Team, also continue to operate as normal with the use of PPE.
Community Teams continue to offer some initial first appointments to children, young people and families who have been waiting over 12 weeks. They also continue to offer urgent appointments to those who need to be seen quickly due to risk/urgency and they remain in contact with children, young people and families whom are open to the service and require a high level of contact due to risk/severity of illness. We are working hard towards ensuring that all assessments and therapies have re-commenced by 21st September 2020.
There are many helpful resources developed by our teams that can be accessed via Leeds Community Healthcare, Leeds CAMHS Facebook or MindMate
For all CAMH Services, if you or any member of your family has Covid like symptoms, Public Health England has requested that you do NOT enter an NHS building. If you arrive for your appointment and are displaying symptoms, you may be asked to leave and follow guidance from NHS England via WWW.111.NHS.UK
If you have any questions about your appointments, then please contact your CAMHS team as below:
- Kirkstall CAMHS– 0113 8432710
- Reginald CAMHS – 0113 8432710
- Parkside CAMHS – 0113 8432710
- Eating Disorders – 0113 8434317
- Little Woodhouse Hall (COS/Crisis and Adolescent In-patient) – 0113 3057200
Criteria
Leeds CAMHS accept referrals for children and young people (up until their 18th birthday) who have a mental health problem which fulfils one or more of the following criteria:
- Has been persistent for six months or more (less for under 5s)
- When targeted emotional health services (based within other agencies) have not resolved the problem and a specialist CAMHS input is required
- Where mental health issues have a major impact on activities of daily life over an extended period
- Where the problem is more serious than a “normal reaction” to an “everyday adverse life event”
- Where there is a high risk/ severity (e.g. serious self-harm/attempted suicide, low weight for height, psychosis)
We additionally treat:
- An eating disorder (as set out in the CEDS National Guidance)
- A psychotic illness (in consultation with Aspire)
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Moderate/severe emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive patterns of behaviour an emerging borderline personality disorder
We also carry out assessments of children and young people who:
- May have ASC (Autistic Spectrum Conditions)
- Are at risk of suicide or are repeatedly self-harming who have been admitted to, or attend, hospital following self-harm who present in mental health crisis



Got an appointment?
Here’s a leaflet explaining what to expect when you first visit CAMHS.
Download CAMHS leaflet