Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
The service is provided for babies and children of up to and including 4 years old with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties that have not responded to the ordinary strategies used by the parent or to specific advice and suggestions from other professionals.
CAHMS do not provide a diagnosis but aim to work alongside parents in thinking about their child, working together to understand the emotional meaning behind the puzzling or difficult behaviour. This could include difficulties around sleeping or eating, or problems in relationships with parents or siblings. They may have experienced trauma around the time of gestation or birth and difficulties in bonding with their parent/carer, or they could have been very ill as a baby or toddler. For some children their troubles are linked to parental conflict or separation.
CAHMS also work with children who are fostered or adopted, for whom early life will have had particular stresses and strains.