CAMHS

What are the Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)?

The Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in Somerset are a partnership  between Young Somerset and Somerset CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

The MHST work in educational settings across the county, supporting children and young people aged 5 to 16 with their mental health and wellbeing. Our primary goal is to ensure that children, young people and their families receive  timely help when they need it.

we aim to build resilience by equipping children, young people and their families with tools and strategies to use now and in the future,  enabling young people to fully engage in their education.

We provide support for mild to moderate mental health concerns. Low Intensity-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LI-CBT) is most effective when mental health changes first begin to emerge.  Signs that a young person may be experiencing changes in their mental health include:

• becoming more withdrawn or feel low
• seeking reassurance more frequently
• losing interest in activities they used to enjoy
• excessive worrying
• repeating certain activities or behaviours that are not helpful to them.

This list is not exhaustive. For more information on potential signs of mental health issues in young people,  please refer to the NHS website.

What is Low Intensity-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LI-CBT)

LI-CBT is a therapeutic  approach that addresses the difficulties a young person is facing by exploring the connections between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Understanding these connections is key to addressing the problem. LI-CBT helps young people develop a toolkit of strategies and learn new ways to manage difficult situations.

This approach is collaborative, meaning  young people actively participate in their therapy. They regularly take ideas or strategies from their sessions and apply them at home and at school.

Trainee and Qualified Practitioners delivering Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LI-CBT)

Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs):

• Deliver evidence based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LI CBT) interventions, including assessment to determine whether this approach is appropriate for the individual child.
• Provide 1:1 and group based support, working directly with children and young people to build skills, confidence and mental health and wellbeing, and, where appropriate, with parents and carers to support their child’s mental health.
• Offer timely guidance and support to access appropriate resources and wider services.
• Support Mental Health Leads in MHST education settings to develop or embed a Whole School Approach (WSA) to emotional health and wellbeing.

Senior Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs)

• Provide senior clinical assessment, formulation and decision making for children and young people with more complex mental health needs.
• Support decision making about next steps and care pathways, advising schools, families and professionals on the most appropriate support at the right time.
•  Manage a caseload where indicated, offering brief targeted interventions, consultation, and coordination of onward support.
• Work closely with parents and carers, and contribute to multi agency meetings, communication and service development to strengthen the MHST offer.

Whole School Approach Practitioners (WSAPs)

• Lead the delivery of a coordinated Whole School Approach to promote emotional health and wellbeing across education settings.
• Deliver non clinical, group based psycho educational workshops and assemblies for children and young people.
• Deliver evidence based parent and carer programmes, including Tuning into Teens and Tuning into Kids.

Mental Health Leads (MHL) in Schools

• Support review and development of the Whole School Approach, including audit and planning.
• Identify pupils and families for wellbeing initiatives and promote participation across the school community.
• Coordinate referrals to the MHST including gathering information and acting as the main link with families.
• Take part in termly consultation meetings with the MHST to discuss individual and whole school needs.

Partnership Working and Other Services

• Somerset Council Educational Psychologists, Public Health, and Exeter University also work closely with the MHST to support emotional health and wellbeing across schools.
• Young Somerset also delivers Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LI CBT) interventions through the Children’s Wellbeing Service (CWS) in schools that are not currently part of the MHST. Further details and other services are available on the Young Somerset website.
• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) provides a wider range of specialist mental health services for children and young people. Further details about CAMHS support and access routes are available on the CAMHS webpage.

The MHST is not a crisis service, and there is a waiting list to access support. If you have any further questions about our processes, please phone 01823 368481 or email mhstadmin@somersetft.nhs.uk. The phoneline and inbox are monitored between 9am and 5pm.

For  urgent concerns, please contact the following services:

• Mindline: A 24/7 phoneline offering support and advice to all ages. Call 01823 276 892 or 0800 138 1692
• Your local GP or NHS helpline (111)
• Samaritans: Call 116 123In an emergency: Dial 999 or visit your local A&E department

Please see other services and resources in our Resources page.