Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Hospital Liaison Team assesses children and young people under 18 years of age who visit our Emergency Department with mental health vulnerabilities.
About this service
We provide assessment, treatment, and safety planning to any child or young person from the age of 5 to 18 years that presents to Canberra Hospital Emergency Department with a mental health vulnerability. We engage the parents/carers in the assessment process, as well as working collaboratively with Education staff, General Practitioners and Child Youth Protection Services.
Our service is available seven days a week between 7.30am and 9.30pm. The Adult Clinical Liaison Team will review any children or young people who present outside these hours.
Any children or young people who are discharged from Canberra Hospital ED or inpatient units and are not engaged with mental health services, will be offered a follow up post discharge appointment by the CAMHS Adolescent Intensive Home Treatment Team for up to 3 or 4 weeks.
We do not provide assessments for Eating Disorders, ADHD/ADD or Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Who we care for
We care for any child or young person between the age of 5 and 18 years of age.
Our service is available to anyone who presents to Canberra Hospital Emergency Department with a mental health vulnerability.
How to access this service
If you or your loved one (between 5 and 18 years of age) come to Canberra Hospital emergency department with a mental health vulnerability, you will be referred to the team.
Your GP can call the team between 7:30am and 9:00pm on 0466 026 482 to let the team know you are coming to the ED for an assessment. Outside of these hours, you will be cared for by the Adult Clinical Liaison Team.
You can contact us by email at: CAMHSHospitalLiaisonTeam@act.gov.au
What to expect
We’ll conduct an assessment once you’ve been referred to the team from the emergency department.
After this assessment we’ll decide whether you, or your loved one, needs to be admitted to hospital or discharged.
If you are discharged, you will have follow-up support from the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
If you are admitted to hospital you will be admitted to:
- The Adolescent Ward, for people under 16 years of age.
- The Mental Health Short Stay Unit, Adult Mental Health Unit or a medical ward, for people aged 16 years or over.
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- Medicines you need to take while you are here
Where we’re located
You can find us in the Emergency Department at Canberra Hospital.
We have directions to the Emergency Department and Canberra Hospital.
