Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

10 March 2025, Chandlers Ford and live-streamed on Zoom

Jennie is a mental health nurse, DBT and EMDR therapist, who has worked with Hampshire CAMHS for many years. Jennie spoke about the medical model, which underpins the work of the NHS, and breaks down client presentation into Mental Illness with a biological cause, Psychological Problems and Emotional Wellbeing. Mental Illness was defined as having a formal DSM diagnosis (such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Depression etc.), Psychological Distress including stress, relationship difficulties or adapting to life changes and Emotional Wellbeing covering emotional regulation, life satisfaction and motivation etc.

All referrals coming into CAMHS are assessed to identify whether the issues are impactful, enduring and pervasive, and come under the auspices of the service. Jennie spoke of the mental health crisis in children and young people and the statistics for the prevalence of mental illness. She shared that the factors contributing to the worsening mental health crisis in children and young people are thought to include, social media, increased recognition, academic pressures and social pressures. I found it interesting that all these suggested factors related to social, inter-relational and trauma experiences, rather than the medical model stance that mental illness is caused by genetics and chemical imbalances.

Jennie then introduced the I-Thrive model which looks at identifying and managing risk and ensuring appropriate support or signposting is offered. She explained the routes into CAMHS, the different teams and the treatments offered by each team. Jennie explained the different pathways and specialities and how the services are governed by NICE guidelines, commissioners, Research Evidence, Department for Health and NHS England. She acknowledged that the waiting lists are long and growing, due to the increased volume of referrals coming in and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff due to workload and moral. Interventions that can be offered are dependent on the pathway, so anorexia for instance will be treated with Family Therapy, low mood might be offered CBT, Art Psychotherapy or Child Psychotherapy. Jennie confirmed that CAMHS commissioners no longer enable the service to work with Autism diagnosis and these referrals are now sent to the OWL Centre, which also has a significant waiting list.

My own sense from this evening is that the staff working within CAMHS are offering the very best services they can with the resources they have available. I was left reflecting on whether this is enough and feeling sad for those waiting for support and their families, from a clearly overstretched service. I acknowledge that this is a political issue, rather than one for our speaker to address and I am very grateful to Jennie for sharing her insights into how Hampshire CAMHS functions.

Julie May