How to Get a CAMHS Referral, and What Happens Next

Watching your teenager struggle, and not knowing the first thing to do about it, is one of the hardest places a parent can be.

You may have noticed them withdrawing, not sleeping, or carrying a weight that wasn’t there before. Somewhere in the worrying, you’ve probably come across four letters: CAMHS.

Getting a CAMHS referral is often the first formal step towards NHS mental health support for a young person, but the process isn’t always clear, and the language around it can feel like a barrier of its own.

This guide walks through how a CAMHS referral works, what happens next, and where to find support in the meantime.

What is a CAMHS referral, and who is it for?

A CAMHS referral is the formal request that puts a young person forward for NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS supports under-18s with things like anxiety, low mood, self-harm and neurodevelopmental needs. A referral usually comes from a GP, a school, or sometimes from a parent or young person directly.

CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It’s the part of the NHS that supports children and young people, usually up to the age of 18, with their mental health. Some areas use slightly different names, but the role is the same. The referral itself is simply the request that starts things off. It says: here is a young person who may need support, and here is what’s been happening.

CAMHS tends to work with difficulties that are having a real impact on daily life, persistent anxiety, low mood, self-harm, disordered eating, or the emotional side of conditions like ADHD and autism. If you’re not sure whether what your teenager is going through counts, that uncertainty is normal. You don’t have to be certain to ask the question.

How do you get a CAMHS referral?

Most CAMHS referrals start with your GP, though schools, health visitors and some local services can also refer. In many areas you can self-refer too. You describe what’s been happening, how long it’s gone on, and how it’s affecting daily life, and the service decides whether it meets its threshold for support.

Starting with your GP

For most families, the GP is the natural first port of call. You can book an appointment for your teenager, or in some cases speak to the GP yourself about your concerns. It helps to go in with a few specifics: what you’ve noticed, roughly when it started, and how it’s affecting school, sleep, eating or relationships.

The GP can then refer to CAMHS, suggest another service, or talk through what might help first. If it feels hard to get everything across in a short appointment, writing a few notes beforehand can take the pressure off.

Referrals through school or college

Schools and colleges can also refer, and they often know a young person well. A good place to start is the SENCo, a pastoral lead, head of year or the school nurse. They may already have noticed changes, and they can sometimes put support in place while a referral is being considered.

For 16- and 17-year-olds in sixth form or college, the wellbeing or student support team plays a similar role. Sharing your concerns with them doesn’t take away your involvement, it simply means more than one adult is helping to carry it.

Can a teenager refer themselves to CAMHS?

In some areas, yes. A growing number of CAMHS services accept self-referrals, and at 16 a young person can usually make that contact themselves. Other areas still ask for a GP or school referral. It’s worth checking your local CAMHS website, as the route genuinely varies from place to place.

At 16, a young person is generally considered able to consent to their own care, which means they can often make contact themselves. For some teenagers, doing that independently matters, it can feel less exposing than having a parent speak for them. For others, doing it together is a relief. Either way works.

What matters most is that the young person is on board, because their willingness to engage is part of what makes support useful. Our counselling for young people pages explain a little more about how support at this age tends to work.

What happens after a CAMHS referral is made?

After a referral, CAMHS reviews the information and decides on next steps, often a triage call, then an initial assessment. The team might ask you for more detail, or point you towards a different service if it fits better. If CAMHS accepts the referral, your teenager joins the list for an assessment appointment.

The team often calls that first review stage triage. The team looks at what’s been described and decides how urgent it is and whether CAMHS is the right service. Sometimes they’ll phone for more detail, so it’s worth making sure your contact number is up to date.

From there, a few things can happen. Your teenager may be offered an assessment. The team may point them towards a service that fits better, an early-help team, a school-based counsellor, or a specialist pathway. Or they may ask for more information before deciding.

An assessment itself is usually a conversation rather than a test. A clinician talks with your teenager, and often with you, about what’s been going on, how it’s affecting daily life, and what they’re hoping for. Some teams use short questionnaires to help build the picture.

Waiting for that first letter or call can be an anxious time. It’s completely reasonable to phone and ask where things stand, or to go back to your GP if things change while you wait.

How long does a CAMHS referral take?

Waiting times vary widely by area and by level of need. Some young people are seen within weeks; many wait considerably longer, and urgent situations are prioritised. Your local service can give the most accurate picture.

While you wait, your GP stays a point of contact, and other forms of support are available too.

There’s no single national answer, because waiting times depend on where you live, how much demand the local service is under, and how urgent the situation is. Some young people are seen within a few weeks.

In many areas the wait is longer, sometimes considerably so, and services prioritise the most urgent cases. Your local CAMHS or GP can give you the clearest picture for your area, and it’s fair to ask.

If your teenager’s mental health gets worse while you’re waiting, you don’t have to sit with that alone. Contact your GP, who can review the situation, and use the urgent routes at the end of this article if you’re ever worried about immediate safety.

What can you do while you wait for CAMHS?

Waiting is hard, especially when things feel urgent. Staying in touch with your GP, keeping school informed, and protecting sleep, routine and connection can all help in the meantime. Some families also choose private counselling for support during the wait, one option among several, and not a replacement for NHS care.

Small things that genuinely help

None of this replaces professional support, but it can steady things while you wait. Predictable routines, regular sleep, meals and some time outdoors, give a young person’s system less to contend with. So does connection: a shared walk, a lift to see friends, a series watched together with no pressure to talk.

And when they do talk, listening without rushing to make it better is often more useful than any advice. You don’t have to have the right words. Staying steady and available is the thing most teenagers remember.

Other support you can draw on

Your GP remains a point of contact throughout, and school or college wellbeing teams can help day to day. Charities offer real support too: the YoungMinds Parents Helpline is there for parents specifically, and Samaritans (116 123) is available any time, for you or your teenager.

Some families also look into private counselling during the wait, it’s one option among several, and not a substitute for NHS care.

If ongoing worry or anxiety is part of the picture, our young people’s mental health pages may be a useful place to read more. Whatever mix you choose, the aim is the same: your teenager isn’t left carrying this alone, and neither are you.

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THE AUTHOR

Paule Bhatowa

• MBACP

Integrative Counsellor — Hope Therapy & Counselling Services

MBACP · L4 Diploma Therapeutic Counselling · BSc (Hons) Psychology · PGC

Integrative counsellor, multilingual therapist, and former teacher offering culturally informed counselling for adults and young people. Specialising in LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, neurodivergence, refugee support, and South Asian communities.

Before becoming a counsellor, Paule spent many years working in education, supporting young people from diverse backgrounds. Her background in teaching and psychology gives her a deep understanding of the emotional, cultural, and developmental challenges people can face throughout life.

As an integrative counsellor, Paule combines Person-Centred Therapy with CBT, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, and Psychodynamic approaches, tailoring therapy to each individual. She is committed to providing an inclusive, culturally aware space where clients feel understood, respected, and accepted, whether they are seeking support in English, Punjabi, Hindi, or Urdu.

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