CAMHS Crisis Connect
Do you have a child or young person who:
- needs urgent mental health advice?
- is in crisis and needs urgent mental health support?
- needs to go to an Emergency Department to get help?
CAMHS Crisis Connect provides phone and online videocall support for children and young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as support and advice to families, carers and professionals in the community.
CAMHS Crisis Connect aims to provide expert help to children and young people quickly, when they need it most.
This includes:
- Specialist urgent tele-mental health support
- Crisis management
- Face to face mental health and risk assessment at PCH Emergency Department or via telehealth
- Follow up within 24 hours of receiving an assessment or discharge from PCH
Who can access the service?
The service is available to:
- children and young people
- ages 17 years and under via telehealth, 15 years and under at PCH Emergency Department
Support, advice and guidance for referral for:
- families and carers
- general practitioners
- school psychologists
- teachers
- community nurses
- health professionals
For 18 years or over
If you are aged 18 years or over, please call the Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL) on 1300 555 788.
How does the CAMHS Crisis Connect service work?
This is a free service, available by calling 1800 048 636, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The service is operated by a mental health clinical nurse specialist and consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist.
For a tele-mental health assessment, you will need a computer or a phone with a microphone or camera, a reliable internet connection and access to an up-to-date web browser.
Find out more about how to use telehealth
What will happen when the assessment is complete?
Every tele-mental health assessment will include an initial mental health assessment, risk assessment and a discharge plan.
Young people, families and carers may be referred to their GP, other private facilities, a community mental health service or advised that an admission to an inpatient mental health unit may be required.
CAMHS Crisis Connect incorporates an intervention / follow up clinic that can provide time-limited psychological therapy (4-6 sessions over 2 weeks) to address the immediate needs of the young person through early intervention and to reduce the risk of escalation.