About National Deaf CAMHS

Our National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (NDCAMHS) works with children and young people aged 0-18 who have severe to profound hearing loss, have deaf parents or have BSL (British Sign Language) as a first language and who also experience emotional and/or behavioural issues. We work to improve the mental health of these children and young people by supporting them and their families.

It is known that deaf children are more likely to experience mental health issues (anywhere between 30% and 50% more likely). Communication is a huge issue for deaf families, and there is also recognition that, for various reasons, the developmental pathways for deaf children differ from their hearing counterparts. This needs to be properly considered for intervention to be effective. NDCAMHS was established within this context as a specialised response to the particular needs of deaf children, young people and families.

The Deaf Service represents the Northern Arm of the National Deaf CAMHS. The service is commissioned by the NHS England and operates across the North of England.

About the service

The team

Our multidisciplinary team includes child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, clinical nurse specialists, specialist deaf outreach workers, mental health practitioners, BSL/English interpreters, managers, and administrators.

Referrals

Referrals can come from any professional working with the child, young person and family. This includes schools, mainstream and deaf, teachers of deaf children, CAMHS, GPs, paediatricians and other arms of the NDCAMHS and Children’s Services.

Contact information

National Deaf CAMHS is based in York, Newcastle and Manchester and can be contacted using the details on this page in the “How to find us?” section.

You can also contact the teams by email at NDCAMHSNorth.lypft@nhs.net

The team are available from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Yorkshire and Humber 18-25 Deaf Mental Health Assessment Service

The National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health (North) Service is running a Deaf Mental Health Assessment service for deaf adults aged 18-25.

This service provides an assessment/diagnostic service, with short term intervention sessions where appropriate.

Please note, this is a pilot service running from September 2024. The pilot service will cease taking referrals on 31 Dec 2025 or sooner should we reach our quota of referrals.

Who we help

• Young adults aged 18-25 in the Yorkshire and Humber area.
• Individuals with severe or profound hearing level, or those who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first or preferred language.

Concerns addressed

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Significant problems with language and communication
• Concerns regarding emotional and behavioural management
• Significant impact on daily life including employment, housing, education, and relationships.

Referral criteria

• Referrals can be made by a professional. Please email the team to request a referral form.
• Individuals can refer themselves into the service. Please email the team to arrange a time to complete the form with a clinician.
• The individual must be fully aware of the referral and agree to the assessment.
• The individual must be registered with a GP.

Referral exclusions

• If the person is under 18 years old, please refer to Deaf Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (National Deaf CAMHS). Email: ndcamhsnorth.lypft@nhs.net
• If the individual does not consent to the referral.
• If the individual’s hearing level is not severe or profound, or they do not have significant language problems.

Important information

• If there are mental health or substance misuse issues, contact us before sending a referral.
• When making a referral, ensure you are available for follow-up discussions for at least one week after submission.
• We may require a room for appointments due to our large geographical area.
• We are not an emergency service.
• For urgent responses, contact your local A&E department or GP Service.

Contact us

We are happy to discuss any issues or potential referrals, so please contact us if you need to

Voice: 01904 294 300
SMS: 07980 969 569
Email: 18-25DeafMHAS.lypft@nhs.net

If you would like the information on this web page in BSL please email us NDCAMHSNorth.lypft@nhs.net