Mental Health
Mental Health Crisis
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health, call 111 and select the mental health option (option 2). This call is free and will enable you to speak to a mental health professional in Cornwall. Anyone, any age, any time. You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123 or text ‘Shout’ to 85258
Call 999 or go to the emergency department now if:
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someone's life is at risk, for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose
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you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe
More information from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust about mental health crisis is available here
Children and Young People's mental health is a high priority for us, and we have useful information for practitioners in several areas of this website.
- Please read the learning from suicide related reviews in July 2020, October 2021 and August 2024 here
- We have Seven Minute briefings available here in relation to learning from those reviews and one about the use of language around mental health
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
CAMHS delivers a range of interventions based on the level of mental health need that children and young people present with and covers ages 0 to 18 years old, these services are organised into Integrated Care Areas (ICAs).
Read more about making a referral to CAMHS
Practitioners needing to make referrals for CAMHS for children please contact the relevant ICA as follows
CAMHS have said that “high numbers of young people continue to come forward for support. This means young people and families wait longer than we would like. While on our waiting list families receive welfare calls, advice, support and guidance. We carefully consider each referral and will offer young people access to a service which best meets their need. This may be another commissioned or voluntary sector service. All the services we signpost to offer evidence-based treatments provided by trained professionals. We appreciate your support in assuring our families about the quality and range of services available.”
- Click here for more information about services from CAMHS.
- And more information is available here about mental health support for parents and young people from Cornwall Council.
Training
There is some free training available here.
and Healthy Cornwall offer further Suicide Intervention Training & Skills Development, some of which are funded by Public Health & Cornwall Council for anyone who lives or works in Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly. The only cost to the delegate is the cost of the course resources
- Mental Health First Aid Youth - click here to book
- Suicide First Aid: Understanding Suicide Intervention - Suicide First Aid Young Adults; Suicide First Aid Children & Young People available on request - click here to book
- Suicide First Aid Children & Young People (SFA: CYP) in Schools - click here to book
Further reading for professionals, parents and carers
- Anna Freud, a mental health charity, also provide useful resources for children, young people, families and practitioners - available here
- Parents Mental Health Support and Advice for Your Child from YoungMinds
- Papyrus
- Information for parents and carers from Headstart Kernow
and finally, Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership have produced some resources about self harm and suicide prevention. This guide for non-mental health specialists gives you key information that will help you to:
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Feel more confident talking about self-harm and suicide.
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Know how to respond appropriately.
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Understand when and how to seek further support.
Alongside this, a group of young people worked in collaboration with workers in Plymouth to create resources to help others. They have produced a booklet to help break down barriers and help practitioners to talk to young people with an accompanying well-being plan.
- Sources of support for for children and young people - available here