Children and young people's mental health support
Helping children and young people to have good emotional wellbeing and mental health is just as important as helping them to be well physically. In Derby, services in education, health, and social care are working together to offer a graduated response to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Information, advice and support services
The Derby and Derbyshire Emotional Health & Wellbeing website pulls together a range of information from different organisations to help support health and wellbeing. The website provides a one-stop-shop where you can find local information about available emotional health and wellbeing support, and how to access it.
The Mental Health Helpline & Support Service offers a free 24/7 helpline for people in Derbyshire and Derby City who require advice about mental health. This offer is for children and adults of all ages. Trained P3 mental health support staff are on hand to answer calls from members of the public. We tailor our response to each caller's situation. Support is available to people of any age living in Derbyshire and Derby city and experiencing mental health difficulties or concerns.
KOOTH is aimed at all young people aged 11-25 years and provides online information and support, including the option of 1:1 online chat with a trained counsellor. No referral is needed. The services provide access to text-based counselling support accredited counsellors from 12noon until 10pm on weekdays and 6pm until 10pm on weekends as well as 24/7 access to online forums where concerns and relevant articles can be shared and discussed. Please visit to sign up and create an account for free.
Compass Changing Lives Early Intervention Targeted Support Service (EITSS) provides emotional wellbeing and mental health support for children and young people aged 5-18 years and parent carers across Derby city. They offer one-to-one support and group work, usually based on 6-8 sessions.
Child Adolescence Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is commissioned to provide assessments and interventions for children and young people with moderate to severe mental health presentations aged 0-18 years. CAMHS have different types of services to support different mental health. The service accepts referrals for children and young people up to their 18th birthday. Non-urgent referrals are accepted from any involved professionals such as social workers, school nurses, school professionals, doctors, and educational psychologists.
The Learning Disability CAMHS Team works with families of children and young people aged 0-18 years who have a moderate to severe learning disability, behaviours that may be considered challenging or distressing, and/or mental health problems and a GP in Derby city. The team accept referrals from school, GPs, social workers or another health professional. The team aims to reduce mental health problems and/or reduce behaviours and increase quality of life for young people and their families.
Derby & Derbyshire Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service for Children In Care (DECC) - Action For Children is a service commissioned by Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and Derby and Derbyshire ICB to provide trauma and attachment informed services for children in care and the systems that support them.
Support in schools and settings
The Derby and Derbyshire Mental Health Pathway Guidance 2023 has been developed to support children and young people (CYP) with their mental health and wellbeing. Schools and settings are placed in different localities that have different support structures or services around them. Some buy in their own mental health support services, others have Mental Health Support Teams (MHST). This guidance has been developed with this in mind to assist those who work with CYP in Derby city. Schools and settings can add their own information to make it bespoke to them. Local CAMHS Specialist Community Advisors (SCA) can help and support with the development to make it comprehensive and relevant.
Compass Changing Lives Mental Health Support Teams in Schools (MHSTs) provides support in schools across Derby city. Working in schools, the team helps build skills to cope with
- low mood, low motivation, sadness
- mild to moderate anxiety
- worries, irrational fears and concerns
- common challenging behaviours
- angry outbursts
- pushing boundaries
- frustration and distress
- family and peer relationship difficulties
- adjusting to change and transition
- managing emotions
They offer low intensity CBT either one-to-one or in a group setting, usually based on 6-8 sessions for children and young people aged 5-18 years.
CAMHS Specialist Community Advisors (SCA) provide consultations to all professionals from statutory to community and voluntary organisations about the mental health and wellbeing being of children and young people. Consultations involve the SCA providing evidence based specialist mental health advice, appropriate ongoing support options, guidance, signposting or support to make onward referrals.