Intensive
The East Renfrewshire and South West Glasgow (CAMHS) team offers assessment and intervention to children and
young people 0-18 years who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. These difficulties can
result in persistent symptoms of psychological distress. The difficulties may cause significant impairment in day-today
functioning and/or there may be a risk that the child/young person may cause serious harm to themselves or
others.
The CAMHS team is made up of a range of health workers such as: psychiatry, clinical psychology, mental health
nursing, family therapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. Each professional has different
skills and it is not unusual for some children/young people to see more than one team member across their time
in CAMHS. The team will consider environmental, social, family, psychological and biological factors.
At the initial assessment appointment the child/young person and family will be asked about their difficulties,
as well as strengths and protective factors. The aim is to come to a joint understanding of the current situation,
and a plan going forward. This plan may include help from other services. Some children/young people may
require further assessment or intervention within the CAMHS team. Dependent on need, interventions can include:
therapeutic group work, ongoing work with other agencies involved, family therapy or individual therapeutic
approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy. For some of these children/young people it may also be helpful
for them to be started on medication. The CAMHS team will also ask the child/young person’s
and family’s permission to contact other agencies who have been involved to date, to obtain further information
on what has been helpful.