So you have a date for an appointment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and you may be a little worried about coming to your first session, but it’s normal to feel a little anxious about meeting new people and being unsure of what to expect.
We will make you feel as comfortable as possible when you visit our service, taking things at a pace that feels right for you in a non-judgemental environment.
See Rotherham Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway Your CAMHS Appointment for more detail about your Rotherham ASD/ADHD appointment
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
There may be a short wait between the request for support being made and your first Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service appointment and how long this wait will be varies, but our aim is always to see you as quickly as possible. You can check when your appointment is likely to be by calling your local CAMHS service.
Can I change my appointment?
Yes of course. If things change for you and you are unable to attend your booked appointment, please let us know as soon as you can by calling the team. We can then make another appointment for you at a time that is more convenient.
Where will my appointment be?
We’ll usually invite you to one of our main clinic bases for your appointment, but sometimes we might meet with you somewhere else such as at your school or your home. We’ll chat through with you your options and agree together where might be best to meet.
Who will I meet?
At your first appointment, you will usually meet a member of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service team, possibly two, who will do an assessment. This means that they will ask you a range of questions that will better help them to understand your current situation and the issues you are experiencing so that they can find the best ways to help you. If you are not confident with speaking English, we can arrange for an interpreter to be there too, just let us know in advance if you would like one.
Who else will be involved?
At your assessment, we will usually see you with your parents/carers or by yourself. If you are under 16, it’s helpful for your family or carers to be involved in your Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service journey. There will always be an opportunity for you to speak to your CAMHS worker on your own at your appointment. If you are aged over 16, you can talk to your CAMHS worker about who you would like to come to appointments with you. It can be helpful to have family members/carers involved so that they can share their thoughts about what might be going on, as well as being able to support you with any changes you might want to make.
What questions will the CAMHS workers ask?
Your first appointment with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) team is a chance for you to tell them about what’s been happening for you. Your CAMHS worker will ask you questions to build up a picture of how you have been feeling and what has been going on for you. Some of their questions might include:
- What difficulties are you currently experiencing?
- How long has the problem been around?
- Who’s in your family and how do you all get on?
- What is life like at school and with your friends?
- How has your mood been recently? Have you been feeling low or stressed?
- Are you, or is anyone around you, worried about your safety?
- What were you like when you were growing up?
- What has your life been like so far?
- What things you are good at and enjoy?
- What would you like to change or achieve by coming to CAMHS?
- What type of help would you prefer?
You might find it useful to write down how you have been feeling and what you have been experiencing before you come to your appointment so it’s easier to answer the questions. You don’t have to answer all the questions that your CAMHS worker will ask you, and there will be plenty of time and opportunity for you to ask them any questions you might have too.
Young Minds have developed a list of questions you might find useful to ask your CAMHS worker:
What happens next?
At the end of your appointment, you and your Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service worker will agree a plan about what happens next and arrange another visit if you need to come back and see us again. If we think someone else in the team might be better able to help you we will talk this through with you
If you become worried about your safety or the safety of others around you, or you need to be seen in an emergency before your first appointment, you should go directly to your GP or local hospital Emergency Department.