CAMHS Early Help Pathway

The CAMHS Early Help Pathway is here for children and young people aged 5–18, and their families, who are registered with a Plymouth GP and need support with their moderate to severe mental health difficulties which impact functioning at home, in school, or socially.

Our team includes lots of different professionals who are experienced in working with children, young people, and families—such as mental health nurses, children’s nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, child wellbeing practitioners, and community support workers.

We’re the main point of contact for all CAMHS requests for involvement from professionals, parents, and young people. We can offer consultations, assessments, and  interventions. This might be access to online therapeutic intervention for anxiety or low mood for the young person and parent , group work or one- to one therapeutic interventions.

We also run an advice and support line, Monday to Friday from 9am–4pm. Anyone registered with a Plymouth GP can call—there’s no need to already be working with CAMHS. We can offer advice, signposting, resources and help with completing a self‑referral.

When referring to CAMHS for specialist assessment, there must be significant concern about the Child or Young Person’s mental health; moderate to severe difficulties which impact functioning at home, in school, or socially.

Please note that CAMHS does not accept referrals solely to assess or diagnose ADHD or Autism. Requests for neurodevelopmental assessments should be made via the appropriate neurodevelopmental pathway, GP, or community paediatric service.

If there are significant mental health difficulties as well as suspected neurodevelopmental needs, a CAMHS referral may still be appropriate.