Mental health challenges can affect all families, with about one in five children and young people experiencing some level of mental health concerns.

For young people, mental health issues are as common as physical health problems and may include depression and anxiety disorders, grief, challenging and disruptive behaviours, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress, psychosis, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

In Northern NSW Local Health District, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Workers are based in Grafton, Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and Tweed Valley, and provide support for young people aged 12 to 18 years. They may also provide referrals to other community services that will more appropriately meet the young person’s needs.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Workers offer:

• mental health assessment
• family counselling,
• individual counselling and support
• crisis intervention

To access these services, go to the nearest Community Mental Health service, seek a GP referral, or phone the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. 

If you have an Emergency, phone triple zero (000) immediately.

Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are located at:

Ballina Child and Adolescent Mental Health 
Nexus Building, 72 Crane St
BALLINA NSW 2478

Byron Central Hospital
54 Ewingsdale Road
EWINGSDALE NSW 2481
Phone: (02) 6639 9400

Grafton Community Mental Health
175 Queen Street
GRAFTON NSW 2460
Phone: (02) 6641 8250

Lismore Community CAMHS
17 Conway Street
LISMORE NSW 2480
Phone: (02) 6620 7995

Tweed Valley Hospital
771 Cudgen Road, CUDGEN NSW 2487

Phone: (02) 6677 3602

Other Child and Adolescent Mental Health services we offer include:

Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Service (CASEDs)

The CASEDs team is a specialist program within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

CASEDs provides specialist multidisciplinary care for children and young people aged 8-17 and their families who have a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder and who are already engaged with a CAMHS or Child and Family Health service prior to the referral to this specialist service.

This step-up/stepdown service provides intensive support to children and young people who have not progressed in treatment with CAMHS or Child and Family Health treatment in the community teams.

This service is provided through a combination of face to face and virtual support with a focus on intensive family-based intervention.

Referrals to this service are via CAMHS or Child and Family teams only.

Got it!

The Got It! (Getting On Track In Time!) team provides early intervention mental health services for children in grades Kindergarten to Year 2.

The Got It! team have staff at both Byron Community Health and Yamba Community Health centres and provide a district-wide program across Northern NSW.

Schools complete an Expression of Interest for Got It! to provide the following service over three school terms:

• Training for K-2 school staff in an evidence based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program
• Classroom delivery of a SEL program for all children in K-2
• Interviews and discussions with parents/carers who may have concerns about their child’s behavioural and/or emotional wellbeing
• The 9-week ‘Exploring Together’ program for up to 8 children and an accompanying parent/carer

Got It! works closely with the Department of Education and school staff to ensure that the program is delivered in a way that is appropriate for each individual school.

Contact:
Byron Community Health: (02) 6639 9400
Yamba Community Health: (02) 6603 0900

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Perinatal Infant Mental Health Service

The Perinatal Infant Mental Health Service (PIMHS) is a community-based service for parents with a severe, acute or complex mental illness, or who are at imminent risk of relapse/episode and who are pregnant or have a child under the age of two.

PIMHS provides time limited, intensive (minimum weekly) support, provided through direct patient care or consultation liaison for up to 3 months.

The service is located at the Lismore Mental Health campus and provides services across Northern NSW Local Health District.

Referrals are accepted via Community Mental Health Services.

Safeguards

The Safeguards Team is a specialist program within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). It is a new community-based service for children and adolescents aged 0-17 years experiencing acute mental distress, and their support network.

The Team includes Psychiatry, Psychology, an Aboriginal Mental Health Worker, Nurse Practitioners and Mental Health Clinicians.

The Safeguards Team will provide short term support for up to six weeks with the aim of stabilising the immediate crisis, building strengths and capabilities, and assisting children and adolescents and their support network to access practical supports including linking children and young people to services which can provide ongoing support if needed. Children and adolescents will be provided timely and accessible services either via face-to-face, or via telehealth and telephone, depending upon their location and the urgency.

The Service operates extended hours, including weekends, and referrals are received only through the Mental Health Assessment Teams.

Contact details: (02) 6620 7995 or email NNSWLHD-Safeguards@health.nsw.gov.au. The office is located at Conway Court, Upper Ground Floor, 17 Conway Street, Lismore NSW 2480.

School Link

The NSW School Link initiative is a state-wide collaboration between NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education to improve the mental health, wellbeing and resilience of children and young people.

School Link Coordinators are based at these sites:

Tweed Valley Hospital Community Mental Health
Phone: (02) 6677 3600

Byron Community Mental Health
Phone: (02) 6639 9400

Lismore Community CAMHS
Phone: (02) 6620 7995

Grafton Community Mental Health
Phone: (02) 6641 8250

Whole Family Team

The Whole Family Team is a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who work with the Department of Communities and Justice to support families with a parent experiencing mental health or alcohol and other drug-related problems, and where there are significant child protection concerns.

Our team provides assessments and evidence-based treatment in a home-visiting model to families for up to 12 months.

The service is located in Lismore and covers the Lismore and Ballina areas.