Summary
Moving from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services is a normal part of growing up, but it can still feel like a big change. CAMHS generally supports children and young people, while adult services support people once they reach adulthood. The exact age at which someone moves between services can vary depending on the service and individual circumstances.
Transition can involve changes to the people supporting you, how appointments work, where you receive support and what services are available. Adult services may have different ways of working and may expect you to take more responsibility for managing appointments, medication, treatment and communication with professionals. This doesn’t mean you suddenly have to manage everything by yourself – support should still be available to help you understand and navigate the changes.
The transition may bring up mixed feelings. You might feel excited about having more independence, but also worried about losing familiar professionals or having to explain your experiences to someone new. It can be particularly difficult if you have been working with the same team for a long time or if you’ve had previous experiences of finding services difficult to access.
What happens during a transition?
Ideally, moving between services should be planned rather than happening suddenly. Your CAMHS team may talk with you about your ongoing needs, what support you currently receive and what might be appropriate after you leave CAMHS. You may be involved in decisions about which service you move to and what information is shared with the new team.
There may be a period where CAMHS and adult services communicate with each other to support continuity of care. This might involve sharing relevant clinical information, arranging appointments or having professionals from both services involved in transition planning. The exact process will depend on your circumstances and the services available in your area.
Not everyone who reaches adulthood will automatically move into an adult mental health service. Some people may no longer need specialist mental health support, while others may be offered different types of support depending on their needs. Reaching the age for transition does not mean that your difficulties have suddenly disappeared.
Your voice matters
You should have opportunities to ask questions and have a say in your care. It can be useful to talk about what has worked well for you, what hasn’t worked, what you’re worried about and what you would like your future support to look like.
You can also ask practical questions, such as who your new contact will be, how to arrange appointments, what happens if you are struggling, who to contact in a crisis and what to do if you miss an appointment. Writing these questions down beforehand can make appointments easier, particularly if you find it difficult to think of things in the moment.
Transition should ideally be planned rather than happening suddenly. You can ask your CAMHS team what will happen, when the transition is likely to take place and what support will be available while you move between services. Your history and relevant information should be shared appropriately so that you don’t have to explain everything from the beginning, although it can still be useful to keep your own notes about your mental health, previous treatment and what has helped you in the past.
Moving to adult services may mean having more responsibility for your own care, such as managing appointments, medication and communication with professionals. This can feel daunting, but you don’t need to suddenly become completely independent. Family members, trusted adults and professionals can still support you, and you can ask questions if you don’t understand something. It can also take time to build a relationship with a new team, particularly if you’ve been working with CAMHS for a long time.
It is also important to remember that leaving CAMHS doesn’t necessarily mean that you are “better” or no longer need support. Not everyone will automatically move into an adult mental health service, and some people may be offered different types of support depending on their needs. If you aren’t accepted by a service or are discharged, you can ask what other support is available and what you should do if your mental health becomes worse.
How to help myself
Moving from CAMHS to adult services can feel like a lot of change at once, so try to give yourself time to adjust. It can help to find out as much as you can about what will happen before the transition takes place. Ask your current team when you are likely to leave CAMHS, what service you will move to, who you will be supported by and how to contact them. If you are given information that you don’t understand, ask someone to explain it rather than feeling like you should already know.
It can also be useful to keep your own record of your mental health and care. Write down any diagnoses or difficulties you have been experiencing, medication you take, previous treatments, things that have helped, things that haven’t helped and anything you want a new professional to know. You could also write down questions or worries before appointments, particularly if you find it difficult to remember everything when you’re there.
Try to gradually build confidence in managing your own care. This might mean learning how to book appointments, request prescriptions, keep track of appointments and recognise when you need to ask for help. You don’t have to do all of this immediately, and it’s okay to ask someone you trust to help while you’re learning.
If you’re worried about losing support or having to start again, tell your current team. Let them know what you’re worried about and what has helped you feel safe and supported. If there are things you need from your new service, such as reasonable adjustments, communication preferences or support around appointments, bring these up early so they can be considered as part of the transition.
Remember that you don’t have to pretend you’re okay because you’re becoming an adult. If your mental health gets worse during the transition, tell someone rather than waiting for your next routine appointment. Speak to your new team, GP, a trusted person or an appropriate urgent mental health service depending on how serious things feel.
Give yourself permission to miss CAMHS or feel uncertain about adult services. You may have built strong relationships with people who have supported you for years, so saying goodbye can genuinely feel like a loss. You can appreciate what that support meant while also gradually building new relationships and skills.
How to help a loved one
Moving from CAMHS to adult services can be a big change, so one of the most helpful things you can do is listen to their worries without assuming that they should be excited about becoming more independent. They might be looking forward to the change while also feeling anxious about leaving familiar professionals, meeting a new team or having to explain their experiences again. Let them know that these mixed feelings are completely understandable.
You can help them prepare for the transition by going through the practical information together. Encourage them to find out when their CAMHS support will end, what happens next, who their new point of contact will be and what they should do if they become unwell. You could help them write down questions for appointments, organise important information about their care or make a simple list of useful contacts.
Try to support their growing independence without taking over. They may gradually be expected to manage appointments, medication and communication with professionals themselves. You can help them practise these things — for example, showing them how to book an appointment or helping them set reminders — while allowing them to make their own decisions wherever possible.
It can also be helpful to remind them that moving on from CAMHS doesn’t mean they are expected to be “better”. If they are struggling, encourage them to tell their new team rather than hiding difficulties because they feel they should be coping. If they aren’t accepted by an adult service or are discharged, help them find out what other support is available rather than assuming they have nowhere else to turn.
If they are nervous about meeting a new professional, help them communicate what works for them. They might want to write down their communication preferences, reasonable adjustments, previous experiences with services or things that they find difficult. If appropriate, you can also offer to attend an appointment with them or help them prepare beforehand.
Most importantly, keep being there after the transition. Don’t assume that once they have moved to adult services everything is sorted. Check in with them, continue doing normal things together and give them space to talk if they need it.
Myth Buster
Myth: “Moving to adult services means you are better now.”
Truth: Moving from CAMHS is usually related to age and how services are organised, not because someone has suddenly recovered. You can still experience significant mental health difficulties and need ongoing support after leaving CAMHS.
Myth: “You have to manage everything yourself once you turn 18.”
Truth: Becoming an adult doesn’t mean you have to suddenly do everything alone. Adult services may encourage you to take more responsibility for your care, but you can still ask family, friends and professionals for help. Learning to manage your own care is a gradual process.
Myth: “You will automatically be transferred to an adult mental health service.”
Truth: Not everyone leaving CAMHS will automatically move to another specialist service. This depends on your needs, circumstances and the services available in your area. Some people may be discharged with other forms of support, while others may be referred to an adult service.
Myth: “You have to start your whole story again.”
Truth: Relevant information about your previous care should be shared appropriately with the professionals supporting you, so you shouldn’t necessarily have to start from zero. However, it can still be helpful to keep your own record of your history, treatment, medication, preferences and what has helped you.
Myth: “Adult services are exactly the same as CAMHS.”
Truth: Adult services may work differently from CAMHS. You might notice differences in appointments, communication, expectations and the type of support available. It can take time to understand a new service and build trust with new professionals.
Myth: “If you don’t like your new service, you just have to put up with it.”
Truth: Your views still matter. If something isn’t working, tell your care team and explain what you are struggling with. You can ask questions, raise concerns and talk about reasonable adjustments or support that might make your care more accessible.
Myth: “You can’t have your family involved once you’re an adult.”
Truth: Becoming an adult means you have greater control over your own healthcare and privacy, but you can still choose to involve people you trust. You can ask a family member, partner or friend to support you with appointments or help you understand information, depending on the circumstances and your wishes.
Myth: “If you are discharged from CAMHS, there is no more help available.”
Truth: Being discharged from one service doesn’t mean you can’t access support elsewhere. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get support through your GP, adult mental health services, community organisations or other services. If your needs change, you can seek help again.
Myth: “You should be excited about becoming an adult.”
Truth: Transition can bring excitement, anxiety, sadness, relief or all of these at once. Leaving professionals you’ve known for a long time can feel like a genuine loss, and feeling nervous about the change doesn’t mean you’re not ready to grow up.
Support
Moving from CAMHS to adult services can feel much easier when you have people around you who understand that transition takes time. A trusted family member, friend, teacher, university or college staff member, or another adult you feel comfortable with can help you talk through worries, prepare for appointments and remember important information. You don’t have to manage the transition entirely on your own just because you’re getting older.
Your current CAMHS team and new adult mental health team can also support you through the process. Ask them questions about what will happen, what information will be shared, who you should contact if you’re struggling and what support is available while you’re waiting for a new service. If something about the transition isn’t working for you, let them know rather than feeling like you have to accept it.
Your GP can also be an important source of support. They can help you understand what mental health services are available locally, support you if your needs change and help you access further assessment or treatment where appropriate. If you aren’t eligible for a particular adult service, you can ask what other options are available rather than assuming there is nowhere else to go.
If you’re at school, college or university, you may also have access to pastoral support, counselling, wellbeing teams, disability or accessibility services, or other forms of student support. These services can sometimes help with the practical and emotional parts of becoming more independent.
There are also community and voluntary organisations that provide mental health support, peer support, information and practical advice. These can be useful if you’re waiting for NHS support or if you want additional support alongside professional care.
If you’re struggling during the transition, tell someone early. You don’t have to wait until things become a crisis before asking for help.
Therapy interventions
Therapy during the transition from CAMHS to adult services can provide a safe space to process the ending of an important chapter and prepare for what comes next. Leaving a service can bring up feelings of sadness, loss, uncertainty or anxiety, particularly if you’ve developed strong relationships with professionals who have supported you for a long time. Therapy can help you reflect on what that support has meant to you, recognise the progress you’ve made and think about how you can carry the skills you’ve developed into the next stage of your life.
- Ending and transition work – Your therapist may spend time helping you prepare for the ending of your work together, including talking about feelings around saying goodbye, changes in relationships and what you might miss about the service.
- Reviewing progress – Looking back at what brought you to CAMHS, what you have worked on and what has changed can help you recognise your strengths and the progress you’ve made. It can also help identify areas where you may still need support.
- Developing a coping plan – You can work together to identify the strategies that have helped you previously and create a plan for managing difficult periods after leaving CAMHS.
- Building independence and confidence – Therapy can help you gradually take more responsibility for your mental health, such as recognising when you are struggling, communicating your needs, managing appointments and knowing when to seek help.
- Preparing for a new team – You can think about what you would like a new professional to know, what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past and what you need from future support.
- Managing uncertainty – Transition can involve waiting, changes in professionals and uncertainty about what support will look like. Therapy can help you develop ways of managing these feelings without becoming overwhelmed.
- Maintaining progress after therapy ends – An ending can include thinking about how you will continue using the skills you’ve learned without having regular sessions. This might involve creating a written plan, identifying warning signs and noting who you can contact if things become difficult.
Helplines
Childline
Childline is a free service for young people to talk to a counsellor about anything. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Childline is available to anybody who is 18 years old or younger.
Phone: 0800 1111
Opening times: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
You can also find helpful resources, speak to a counsellor online or send a message on their site.
Website: www.childline.org.uk
For adults concerned about a child, the NSPCC can be contacted
NSPCC
NSPCC is a children’s charity that works to protect children and prevent abuse and neglect. They provide support and advice for adults about child abuse, neglect, child safety, online safety and children’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
Phone: 0808 800 5000
Opening times: 10 am–4 pm, Monday–Friday
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Email opening times: 11 am–4 pm, 7 days a week
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
YoungMinds
YoungMinds is a national charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. They provide information, advice and support for parents and carers who are concerned about a young person’s mental health, and help people understand mental health difficulties, find appropriate support and access useful resources. Their Parents Helpline can provide information, advice, emotional support and signposting to other services.
Parent helpline: 0808 802 5544 (9:30 am – 4 pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9:30 am – 6 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Email: parents@youngminds.org.uk
Webchat: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline/
The Mix
The Mix is a charity providing free information, advice and support for young people on all sorts of issues that can affect their lives and wellbeing. This includes mental health, relationships, money, housing, work and education, drugs and alcohol, bullying, social media, family difficulties and many other challenges. They offer information and practical advice to help young people understand what they are going through, make informed decisions and find further support when they need it.
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Opening times: 11 am–11 pm, 7 days a week
Website: http://www.themix.org.uk
Crisis Messenger: Text THEMIX to 85258 – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Kooth
Kooth is a free online mental health and wellbeing service for young people. It offers a safe and confidential space where young people can access information, read helpful resources, take part in online discussions and receive support from trained professionals. Kooth can help with all sorts of issues that may affect young people’s mental health and wellbeing, including stress, anxiety, relationships, bullying, family difficulties, low mood and other challenges they may be experiencing.
Website: www.kooth.com
Online support: Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Live chat with a practitioner: 12 pm–10 pm Monday to Friday; 6 pm–10 pm Saturday and Sunday
Shout
Shout is a free, confidential text messaging service that provides support to anyone who is struggling to cope. It can help with a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, low mood, loneliness, relationship difficulties, bullying, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, feeling overwhelmed and other mental health challenges.
Text: SHOUT to 85258
Opening times: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Website: www.giveusashout.org
Mind
Mind is a mental health charity providing information, advice and support for people experiencing mental health difficulties. They cover a wide range of mental health and wellbeing issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, loneliness, coping with difficult experiences and managing everyday life. Mind provides information to help people understand what they are experiencing, know their rights, find appropriate support and feel less alone.
Phone: 0300 123 3393
Opening times: 9am–6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Samaritans
Samaritans is a charity providing emotional support to anyone who is struggling to cope or needs someone to talk to. They are there for people experiencing all sorts of difficulties, including stress, anxiety, loneliness, relationship or family problems, bereavement, feeling overwhelmed and concerns about mental health or suicide.
Phone: 116 123
Opening times: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Website: http://www.samaritans.org
Support For Us 