Kerry South
Bridgeview House,
Ballydribeen,
Killarney,
Co. Kerry,
V93 W7Y7
064 6678400
Kerry North
Tralee Primary Care Centre
Floor 3, East Wing
John Joe Sheehy Road
Tralee
Co Kerry
066 7104857
What is the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service?
If you or your child are experiencing a time of severe and disabling mental health, you may benefit from attending the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), a Consultant led community based tertiary mental health service. Here, children and teenagers (5-18 years) and their families/carers and schools can access multi-disciplinary assessment, treatment and support.
What Types of Concerns Do CAMHS Deal With?
- Prolonged sadness, depression and/or agitated mood/elated mood
- Anxiety, fearfulness and/or phobic behaviours (moderate-severe)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Tics and Tourette’s syndrome
- Persistent self harm, suicidal thoughts and behaviours (intent)
- Behavioural and conduct disturbance (severe)
- School avoidance and/or phobia (severe)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Eating and body image disturbance; including anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
- Hallucinations, delusional thinking and thought disorder – Concerns re: psychosis
- Children with physical illness, disabilities intellectual disabilities or ASD who have mental health concerns
- Gender Issues
Who Is On The CAMHS Team?
There are two CAMHS teams in Kerry: North Kerry and Mental Health of Intellectual Disability and South Kerry. Both teams consist of the following:
What Treatments May Be Offered?
Treatment may include:
- Psycho-education
- Medication
- Parenting Support
- Psychological Therapy (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural therapy, Solution FocussedTherapy)
- Behaviour Support
- Supportive Therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Group Therapy
CAMHS Does Not Offer the Following Services
- Autism Assessments: The clinic does not provide assessments if you have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you present with behaviours consistent with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, you will be referred to another service for assessment.
- Educational Psychological Assessments: The Clinic does not provide educational psychological assessments. This service is provided by the National Educational Psychological Service (N.E.P.S.). If you require this service, you can access it through your school's principal.
- Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy Assessments: We do not provide Speech and Language or Occupational Therapy assessments or treatment unless you also have emotional or behavioural difficulties.
- Assessments for the purpose of advising in Custody and Access Disputes.
How Can I Access CAMHS?
If you feel you or your child may benefit from CAMHS services, you can request a referral from your GP or from the following professionals at senior/team leader level in consultation with your GP:
- Paediatricians
- Consultant Liaison Psychiatrists
- Educational Psychologist
- Community Based Clinicians
- Tusla – Child and Family Agency
- Assessment of Need Officers
- Jigsaw
What Is The Referral Process?
Urgent referrals: if you or your child is believed to be at risk of harming themselves, you will be seen as soon as possible (24-48 hours)
Non-urgent referrals: if your referral is not urgent, your referrals will be examined by the CAMHS team and further information is sought from parents and school via questionnaires. If your referral is not believed to be appropriate for CAMHS due to age or non-mental health-related difficulties, it will be sent back to the referral agent to refer onward. If your referral is accepted, you will be placed on the waiting list and offered an appointment for an initial assessment in due course. Your waiting time will vary depending on your clinical need.
