Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

• Crisis situations​
• Non-crisis situations​

Crisis situations

National Deaf CAMHS cannot respond to crisis situations. If you need urgent help, do not wait for your next appointment. Please use the services listed below.

Medical emergency (ambulance, police, fire, coastguard)

Contact 999 via British Sign Language Video Relay at any time or any day of the year. Use the 999 British Sign Language service.

• 999 British Sign Language website.
• Download the 999 British Sign Language app for quick access to a British Sign Language interpreter.

NHS 111

Contact NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice at any time or any day of the year.

• NHS 111 – British Sign Language Service.
• Download the SignVideo app to contact NHS 111 through a British Sign Language interpreter.

Relay UK

Text emergency SMS service for deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired users.

• Relay UK website.
• Download the Relay UK app to register your phone.

Non-crisis situations

If you would like someone to talk to while you wait for your appointment, there are some other services you may be able to access.

• National resources for while you wait for your appointment.
• Regional resources for mental health support in your area.
• Autism resources.
• ADHD resources.
• Useful information resources.

Help with anxiety

Useful websites:

• Mind’s A – Z of mental health has lots of information on different things you maybe experiencing or feeling.
• The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth video library has lots of videos in British sign language covering different health topics.
• Anna Freud’s self-care for children and young people provides tips to help with anxiety when you’re at home.
• Kooth is an online community for under 18’s, offering mental health support and online counselling.

Useful apps:

• Tappy is a destress app, using fidgets with satisfying vibrations, as well as breathing exercises.
• Calm Harm is aimed at reducing self-harm, but has suggesting for reducing stress and anxiety.
• Worry Tree is a cognitive behavioural therapy app to organise / view your worries. It helps to build confidence and offers distractions.
• Dare is an anxiety specific app, tackling panic attacks, anxiety, and sleep. Track your anxiety to see your progress.

Help with low mood

Useful websites:

• Mind’s A – Z of mental health has lots of information on different things you maybe experiencing or feeling.
• Better Health, Every Mind Matters’ mental health and self care for young people has videos on mental health and advice, as well as tips of things to try.
• The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth video library has lots of videos in British sign language covering different health topics.
• Young Minds offers help and support.

Useful apps:

• Smiling Mind is a wellbeing app with meditations to listen to (with subtitles) on topics like sleep, study, identity, and breathing.
• Dare is an anxiety specific app, tackling panic attacks, anxiety, and sleep. Track your anxiety to see your progress.
• Mindshift is a wellbeing app to meditate, journal, and set goals. It also has lots of tips for keeping a healthy mind.
• Motivation is a motivational app, sending positive, inspiring quotes throughout the day.