CAMHS Referrals Explained: How They Work and What to Do While You Wait

When a friend was told her daughter had been "referred to CAMHS", she nodded, then quietly admitted she had no idea what that meant or what would happen next. If your child is struggling with their mental health, understanding how this part of the system works, and what you can do in the meantime, takes some of the fear out of an already worrying time. Here is a calm explanation.

What CAMHS Is

CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the NHS services that support children and young people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. CAMHS covers a wide range of needs, from anxiety and low mood to more complex difficulties, and involves different professionals depending on what a child needs. It is a specialist service, which is why access usually goes through a referral rather than simply booking an appointment.

How a Referral Works

A referral is the process of asking CAMHS to assess and, if appropriate, support your child. Referrals can come from different places depending on the area:

• Your GP, who is often a good first port of call to discuss concerns
• The school, for example through a pastoral lead or school nurse
• In some areas, parents or young people can refer directly, or there are single points of access

How referrals are made varies from area to area, so it is worth asking your GP or school what the route is where you live. When you make or support a referral, giving clear, specific information about what your child is experiencing helps.

Thresholds and Why Some Referrals Are Not Accepted

CAMHS services assess referrals against thresholds, criteria for the level and type of need they can support. This means not every referral is accepted, and a family can find a referral declined or redirected, which is upsetting when you are worried. It usually reflects how services are structured and prioritised rather than a judgement that your child's difficulties do not matter. If a referral is not accepted, ask what support is recommended instead, as there are often other services and sources of help.

The Reality of Waiting

It would be wrong to pretend waits are short. In many areas, waiting times for CAMHS can be long, and they vary considerably depending on where you live, the service, and the level of need. This is genuinely hard when your child is struggling now. I will not put a number on it, because it varies so much and changes over time; ask the service what to expect locally. What matters is knowing that waiting does not mean doing nothing, because there is a great deal you can do in the meantime.

What to Do While You Wait

• Talk to the school. Pastoral staff, a school counsellor if available, and understanding teachers can offer real support day to day
• Go back to your GP if things get worse, or if you need advice while you wait; they can reassess and advise
• Use reputable charities. Organisations such as YoungMinds offer information and a parents' helpline, and Childline is there for children and young people directly
• Look after the basics. Sleep, routine, time together, and a calm home all genuinely support a child's mental health
• Know where to turn in a crisis. If you are worried about your child's immediate safety, seek urgent help, contact your GP or NHS 111, or in an emergency call 999

Reliable Sources of Help

The NHS website has clear information on CAMHS and children's mental health, YoungMinds supports parents, and your GP and school are key allies. If your child is in crisis, do not wait for a routine process; seek urgent help. These services and charities can guide you, though none can promise a particular waiting time or outcome.

Keeping the Practical Side Organised

Between GP appointments, school meetings and any CAMHS contact, there is a lot to keep track of at an already stressful time. My School Agent can pull the school's messages and reminders into a daily briefing and shared calendar, so appointments and meetings stay in one place while your energy goes where it is needed, on your child. Waiting is hard, but you are not helpless within it: school support, your GP, trusted charities and a steady home all matter, and they matter now.