CAMHS - Child and adolescent mental health services (0–18 years)
These services are for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 years who have serious emotional disturbance. The target group includes young people with a diagnosable psychiatric disorder whose condition is seriously detrimental to their growth or development and/or who have serious difficulties in their social group or family.
Some children and adolescents are at higher risk of a serious mental disturbance. They include:
• victims of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse
• those within the welfare and juvenile justice system
• homeless youth
• those from severely disruptive homes
• those whose parents suffer from a mental illness or a dependence on drugs or alcohol
• those with developmental or learning difficulties and/or an intellectual disability
• those with chronic health problems and disabilities
• post-trauma and post-disaster victims.
The Division of Psychiatry's Bendigo Health's CAMHS is community based and offers services to persons aged between 0 - 18 years who are displaying emotional, relationship, personal care, or behavioural disturbances that impact on family and social relationships, and/or school and workplace functioning.
Services to the local area include:
-- Assessment and referral to: acute inpatient; residential and non-residential rehabilitation; and other generic health services
-- Case management
-- Crisis assessment and treatment
-- Mobile intensive support
-- Clinical interventions and treatments.
Additional important components of the services are:
-- Mental health education to carer and community groups
-- Mental health promotion
-- Consultation and liaison with other health workers and agencies
-- Outreach to smaller, more remote centres.
Parent/family work can be provided, but in the context that the work needs to be with the child/adolescent.
Contact: Entry to this service is via the 24 hour Regional Triage Service. For information, advice or an assessment contact the 24 hour Regional Triage Service - 1300 363 788.