Colourdul background with the text: Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS)

Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS)

The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child and Adolescents Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS)  provides advice and support to children, young people and families who are in need of support with their emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties.  

Any young person, concerned parent, care giver or a responsible adult of a young person can access the SET CAMHS by either making an appointment to see their young person’s GP with them, or accessing our services for information.

We provide a range of support for young people, so to ensure that we direct your referral accordingly please complete our online referral form with as much detail as possible.  

Contact Details

To contact the service between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, you or someone on your behalf can;

Referral information

Click to complete the SET CAMHS online referral form.

A young person living in Southend, Essex and Thurrock can access SET CAMHS services in two different ways: 

  1. By a referral to our services via their GP, teacher, school nurse or any other professional 
  2. By self-referral – which means parents or young people can call our central phone number for all of our services or use the online referral form and get the help and advice that they need straight away. 

Once the referral form is submitted you will recieve a confirmation email. If you don't get an email within a few minutes, please check your junk folder, if it still isn't received, call 0800 953 0222 to speak to a member of the team.

How does the process work? 

Referrers seeking advice can contact the SPA for support on completing the form, Monday - Friday, 9AM-5PM on 0800 953 0222.

Referrals to the Single Point of Access (SPA) team will be reviewed daily, screened within two working days and responded to once allocated to the locality team.

All referrals will be prioritised according to the presenting clinical need and level of risk.

All assessments aim to take place within 12 weeks.

All consultant and non-consultant led treatment aims to start within 18 weeks of the referral. 

What happens next?

Waiting times may vary but we aim to see people within 12 weeks. However, if you find that things become more stressful while you are waiting to be seen, contact us as soon as possible so we are able to provide support. 

SET CAMHS referral image - Text reads: Referral e.g self referral or GP - Single point of access (SPA) telephone support/sign posting - Referral to other services OR First appointment - Support from SET CAMHS - Review - Moving on

Need urgent help / in crisis?

Children and young people - 24/7 CRISIS SUPPORT 

A mental health crisis means your child is very distressed and worried and you require urgent support in managing them:

  • They might want to hurt themselves or someone else
  • They might be feeling actively suicidal
  • They might hear strange noises or feel that people are watching them or wanting to hurt them.

If you feel your child is in crisis and in need of urgent mental health support

We are a 24 hour 7 day a week service.

Monday – Friday 9.00AM – 5:00PM Call SET CAMHS - Freephone 0800 953 0222 

After 5:00PM if your concerns escalate about your child outside of these hours please call Mental Health Direct on freephone 0800 995 1000 (Out of Hours / Weekend or Bank Holidays).

If it is an emergency, immediate danger to life/safety dial 999 or visit Accident and Emergency (A&E).

If you feel concerned about your child/young person but do not feel they need immediate/emergency intervention, please phone the day time number during work hours.