Child Adolescent Mental Health Service

Welcome to the Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) located at 21 Hania Street in Wellington, New Zealand. Our establishment is dedicated to providing specialized mental health support for children and young people.

At CAMHS, we understand that sometimes children and young people may require the expertise of mental health professionals. Our service is designed to assess whether your child is experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues. If we determine that such issues are not present, we can refer your child to a more appropriate service for assistance. In some cases, we may recommend activities or exercises that can be carried out at home, potentially eliminating the need for professional help, at least initially.

Referrals can be made by the child or young person themselves, their parents or caregivers, a general practitioner (GP), or the child's school. If we believe that CAMHS is the right service to help, we will invite you and your child to a first appointment. During this appointment, we will have a conversation with you, your child, and possibly other family members or individuals who know them well, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. We may inquire about your family dynamics and how your child functions within the family.

For younger children, we always meet with parents and caregivers, and with permission, we often communicate with their school or preschool to gather a complete picture. If we determine that your child may have a moderate to severe mental health issue and we are the appropriate service to assist, we will offer you an appointment with a case manager to continue the work started at the initial appointment. Our aim is to utilize our expertise and provide a collaborative space to explore what has been happening and determine the best way to meet your child's needs.

It is important to remember that seeking help is a crucial step towards improving the situation. At CAMHS, we have a team of professionals with the necessary skills to assess, treat, and provide ongoing evaluation for children, young people, and their families. Please note that the range of professionals may vary across different services.

Our child and adolescent mental health services are generally open from 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays, with the exception of our Wairarapa service, which operates from 8am to 4:30pm on weekdays.

We also offer the Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Service (ICAFS) as part of our comprehensive support.

If you believe your child may benefit from our services, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and support you on your journey towards better mental health for your child.