Primary Mental Health Specialists

Who we are

Primary Mental Health Specialists (PMHS) support frontline professionals who work with children and young people aged five to eighteen and their carers when there are concerns about mental health and emotional wellbeing.
PMHS usually come from a background of mental health nursing, family and systemic psychotherapy, clinical psychology, child psychotherapy or occupational therapy. PMHS work in partnership with other professionals that families might be involved with, such as social care and schools. 

What we do

PMHS professionals are part of the specialist CAMHS teams and link with the wider community and other children and young people’s organisations and services, including schools. PMHS offer advice, specialist consultation and some training to other staff who work with children, young people, their parents and carers. We also work within the CAMHS clinics directly with children and young people and families.

Parents – how to get help

PMHS are one of a range of professionals within CAMHS who parents or carers may work with if a child or young person is being offered appointments within CAMHS. Parents may also hear about a PMHS if a professional such as a teacher, learning mentor, school health nurse or social worker has the parent/carer’s consent to discuss a child or young person with a PMHS.

Professionals – how to refer

Many professionals working with children and young people can access consultation and advice from a PMHS in CAMHS. For example schools, school nurses, social workers, Early Help in Bristol, First Point in South Gloucestershire, GPs and Community Paediatricians have existing arrangements under our core offer. A PMHS will only get to know children and young people’s names if a parent, carer, (or in some cases where it is age appropriate) the young person, has consented to this and we recommend this as the best way to have an informed discussion. Otherwise a consultation will be anonymous and confidential without mentioning names.

PMHS are located in each of the three CAMHS teams in Bristol: in North, South and East/Central and in the South Glos CAMHS team. Each CAMHS team has one or more PMHS and in Bristol these will usually relate primarily to either 5-11 year olds or 11-17 year olds. PMHS can be contacted at the local CAMHS clinic in their area.