Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) Information
Reference: childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/mental-health-services/
About CYMHS
We see children and young people up to 18 years of age who are struggling with anxiety, depression, their attachment-relationships, eating disorders, school refusal, psychosis, suicidal and/or self-harming behaviours and/or trauma. The children and young people that we see have been impacted in their development, close relationships, activities, education or work.
Our multidisciplinary teams may include allied health professionals (e.g. psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and speech pathologists), nursing, medical, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers
What to expect
When a child and their family or carers first come along to CYMHS, they will see one of our friendly staff members. This staff member—who might be called your Choice clinician—will meet you and work with you to understand your concerns.
Together, we will come to a shared understanding of what has been happening, and develop a plan to help manage these difficulties. At CYMHS, we call this appointment your Choice appointment. Sometimes, this initial Choice appointment is enough to get things back on track. Other times, CYMHS might not seem quite right for you and we will help you to link in with the best service to meet your needs. For some children, continuing to access services within CYMHS will be the right choice. We will partner with you to support you on your road to recovery.
You may see one or more members of the CYMHS team, depending on your needs. Each team has a team leader and psychiatrist who will oversee your care.
CYMHS clinicians specialise in infant, child, adolescent and family mental health and development. We will involve you in decision making, keep you informed, ask for your input, offer you choices and respect your privacy and need for confidentiality. By working together, we will support you to get back on track.
Treatment planning
At CYMHS we focus on recovery-oriented care. This means we recognise and help build on your strengths for better health and wellbeing.
Your care plan may include:
- Mental health and other types of assessments
- Individual work (like counselling)
- Family work
- Group work
- Working with school counsellors, your GP or another service (with your permission)
- Medication
- Referrals to other specialist teams within CYMHS
If you speak a language other than English, CYMHS will arrange a free interpreter with your permission.
Programs include:
- Day programs
- Community based
- Hospital based
- Tele-psychiatry for rural and remote
- Outreach
- Eating disorder clinics
- Residential programs
- Forensic teams (working with youth and children at risk of or involved in criminal justice system)
CYMHS Catchment and Services Map
childrens.health.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/PDF/cymhs/cymhs-catchment-map.pdf
More Information for Teens
childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/mental-health-services/for-teens/
Least Restrictive Way – Decision Making for Child Youth Mental Health Care (flow chart)
health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/860540/LRW_Decisions_Flowchart_CYMHS.pdf
Find a Child Mental Health Service (Queensland Health)
- Children’s Youth Mental Health Acute Response Team (CYMHS) – Phone 07 3068 2555
- Find a Child Mental Health Service (Queensland Health) – health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/find-service/
Helpful Contacts and Information
Children’s IPRA (Independent Patient Rights Advisor)
childrens.health.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/PDF/cymhs/chq-ipra-factsheet.pdf
To learn more about IPRAs, see also Independent Patient Rights Advisors
24-hour Helpline Services
- CYMHS Acute Response Team – Phone 073068 2555
- Kids Helpline (telephone counselling for 5 – 25 years) – Phone 1800 55 1800
- Youth Beyond Blue – Phone 1300 224 636
- Lifeline (crisis support and suicide intervention) – Phone 131 114
- Health Hotline – Phone 13 HEALTH (13 432 584)
- Alcohol and Drug Information Service – Phone 1800 177 833
- Poisons Information Centre – Phone 131 126
Other Helpline Services
- Parentline – Phone 1300 30 1300 (7 days a week from 8am to 10pm)
- Eheadspace – Phone 1800 650 890 (7 days a week from 9am to 1am AEDST)
- NPS Medicine – Phone 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) (Mon to Fri 9am-5pm)
Headspace
Information, resources and support for young people aged 15 – 25, or their friends and family.
- For online or phone services – headspace.org.au
- To find a Headspace centre locally – headspace.org.au/welcome-to-headspace-centres
- Headspace work and study support – Phone 1800 810 794 or headspace.org.au/work-and-study-support
Reach Out
Reach offers young people (and parents and schools), information related to youth mental health, including articles, tips, discussions, forums, tools and apps,
- ReachOut – au.reachout.com
- ReachOut Parents – parents.au.reachout.com
Youth Beyond Blue
- 24 hour helpline – Phone 1300 224 636
- Online chat (3pm – 12am), information and website – youthbeyondblue.com
Kids Helpline
- 24 hour helpline – Phone 1800 551 800
- Online chat, information and website – kidshelpline.com.au
- Email – counsellor@kidshelpline.com.au
Children Of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
Information and resources for children living with a parent experiencing mental illness. Also offers resources for parents living with mental illness, or friends and professionals. copmi.net.au
Parenting
- Parentline – Phone 1300 30 1300 (7 days a week from 8am to 10pm) or for online resources parentline.com.au
- Raising Children Parenting Website – raisingchildren.net.au
Choice and Medication
choiceandmedication.org/queenslandhealth
Lived Experience Australia
(Formerly Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network Australia)
The representative organisation for mental health consumers and families. Offers training, resources and publications. livedexperienceaustralia.com.au
- Training – Working with Carers of People with a Mental Illness – livedexperienceaustralia.com.au/training-carerguide
- Training – Advocacy Skills for Families – livedexperienceaustralia.com.au/training-advocacy-skills
Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC)
Provide independent information and services to youth (10yrs +) about topics including legal help, homelessness, family support, bail and court orders, and Youth Court assistance.
Phone (07) 3356 1002 or yac.net.au
NQ Connect
Free 24/7 telephone and online counselling for anyone in northern Queensland aged 15 years and over. Phone 1300 059 625 or nqconnect.com.au
Other Contacts, Services and Resources
For more mental health contacts and services information, see also Mental Health – Services and Contacts
