Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
CAMHS
CAMHS provides specialist assessment and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18, as well as support for their families and carers, when they are experiencing significant mental health difficulties.
Services are delivered across Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, by a skilled and compassionate multidisciplinary team. This includes doctors, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers, all working together to provide the right care for each child and young person.
Support is available for a wide range of mental health difficulties and conditions, including:
- depression or low mood
- problems with food and eating
- self-harm or suicidal thoughts
- difficult feelings from abuse, which may have led to trauma
- sleep problems
- managing violence or anger
- bipolar disorder, psychosis, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia
- feelings of worry or anxiety
- coping with grief and loss
- neurodivergence like autism or ADHD
CAMHS Gateway
The CAMHS Gateway is the first point of contact for Dorset CAMHS services. It acts as the ‘front door’, helping ensure children and young people are directed to the most appropriate support as quickly as possible.
The service provides:
- initial assessment and triage
- advice and guidance for families, carers, and professionals
- access to brief, early interventions where appropriate
- signposting to other local services and support
How to get support from Dorset CAMHS
For children and young people
If you’re worried about your mental health, you don’t need to deal with it alone. A good first step is to talk to someone you trust, such as a:
- parent or carer
- teacher
- school nurse
They can help you think about what support you need. Together, you can contact someone like a:
- GP (doctor)
- School nurse
- Social worker
They can then refer you to CAMHS if you need specialist support.
If you are aged 16 to 18 and registered with a GP, you can refer yourself directly to CAMHS without going through someone else.
For parents and carers
If you’re worried about your child’s mental health or emotional wellbeing, you can ask for help from professionals who already support them.
This could include:
- GP (doctor)
- teacher or school staff
- school nurse
- social worker
- educational psychologist
- behaviour or family support worker
Talk to one of these professionals about your concerns. If they think CAMHS support is needed, they will make a referral for your child.
For professionals
If you are a professional you can refer a child or young person to CAMHS online.
Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
The Dorset Mental Health Support Team (MHST) work in partnership with schools and colleges across Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, to support children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.
They deliver support in three key ways:
Direct support for children and young people
They provide early intervention and low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LI-CBT) for children and young people (ages 5–18) experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues, such as anxiety, low mood, and behavioural difficulties.
This can include support for:
- low mood
- anxiety and worry
- phobias
- trauma symptoms (PTSD)
- obsessive compulsive difficulties (OCD)
Support may be offered:
- one‑to‑one
- in groups
- through parent‑focused work
Supporting a whole‑school approach to mental health
MHSTs work alongside schools and colleges to strengthen a whole‑school approach to emotional wellbeing, helping settings to:
- build a positive mental health culture
- identify and respond to need early
- embed wellbeing into everyday practice
Advice, consultation and system partnership
Dorset MHST provides timely advice and consultation to school and college staff and work closely with other services so that children and young people can access the right support at the right time and remain engaged in education wherever possible.
There are three main ways children and young people can access support from the MHST through their school when:
- a school staff member notices a child or young person is struggling with day-to-day worries
- a parent informs a school staff member about their concerns
- a young person asks for support for themselves
Kooth
Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous online mental‑wellbeing community designed to support children and young people whenever they need it.
The platform offers access to trained counsellors, helpful self‑care tools, moderated peer forums, and space for journaling and reflection - all available without waiting lists or referrals.
Whether someone wants to explore their feelings, seek advice, or simply connect with supportive resources, Kooth provides a welcoming place to do so at their own pace.