Paediatric Mental Health Concerns

The provision of out of hours mental health services for Children and young people (under the age of 18) and in hours services are different.

In-Hours (9am – 8pm) – contact CAMHS via switchboard

OOH (8pm – 9am) – contact the Mental Health Liason team (RAID) via switchboard (they will see/telephone review these patients initally and help with the mental health aspects including levels of risk and follow up plans with further mental health services)

Most, if not all, primary presentations to the ED with mental health concerns will meet the threshold for discussion with these services even if they decide same day review isn’t appropriate/they direct you elsewhere.

All self-harm and any overdose must be discussed!

Acute behavioural disturbance in children and young people has no nationally approved guideline and should be discussed with senior ED (ST4+), paediatric and mental health colleagues.

In young people for whom a HEADSSS assessment has been performed and you have low level concerns but for whom formal mental health/safeguarding thresholds have not been reached there are local resources which it may be useful to direct young people towards.

BLOSM colleagues are also a great resource repository even if children don’t meet formal referral criteria

Night OWLS – confidential emotional support line open between 8pm and 8am

Openminds Calderdale – repository of multiple sources of well-being support for children in Calderdale

Kirklees Keep in Mind – repository of multiple sources of well-being support for children in Kirklees