Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Deaf CAMHS)

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 a 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 consistent with a Children’s Global Assessment Scale [CGAS] rating of 50 or less. We work to improve the mental health of these children and young people through supporting them and their families.

From the service experience to date we note that for a variety of reasons the children, young people and families who receive a service from NDCAMHS will be with the service for a longer period of time than young people accessing local CAMH Services.

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, there is also recognition that, for a variety of 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 multi-disciplinary team is made up of child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, specialist deaf outreach workers, 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 the deaf, CAMHS, GPs, paediatricians and other arms of the NDCAMHS and Children’s Services.

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 only. Our aim is to offer an assessment, signpost to local providers to carry out recommended interventions.

Please note, this is a 2 year pilot service running from September 2024. The pilot service will cease taking referrals on 31^st Dec 2025 or sooner should we reach our quota of referrals.

Who we help

Young adults aged 18-25 years old 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 must be made by a professional.
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 before completing the referral form if you need to

SMS: 07980 969 569

Voice: 01904 294 300

Email: 18-25deafmhas.lypft@nhs.net

Useful guides and information

The following guides have been created to support Families and Carers, those wanting to make a referral and for those who want to find out more about BSL interpretation services. Click on the image to download the leaflet. A BSL version of each guide is also available below, and you can watch these by clicking on the play button: