1. National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
Tim Richardson, Service Manager

2. Aims What is NDCAMHS? Who do we work with?
Mental health in deaf children and young people
When and how to refer?

3. What is NDCAMHS? National Deaf CAMHS
National mental health service for deaf children and young people aged 0-18.
Increased risk of mental health problems in deaf children

4. Who do we work with?
Work with deaf children and young people (0-18yrs) with mental health problems, and their families
Work with hearing children who have deaf parents
To be referred:
CGAS score below 50
Severe/profound hearing loss or…
BSL as preferred language (Oral, non-signing children can be referred)

5. National Specialist Commissioning Team (NSCT), part of NHS.
Who pays?
National Specialist Commissioning Team (NSCT), part of NHS.
NHS CB as of April 2013
Free for families.

6. Who works in the Northern arm?
Service Manager
Outreach Team Managers
Deaf Family Support Workers
Specialist Deaf Outreach Workers
Social Workers
CAMHS Community Nurses
Clinical Psychologists
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
BSL Interpreters
Medical Secretaries

7. Mental health and deaf children
Deaf children at greater risk of mental health problems (40%)
Less likely to access CAMHS
Rates in deaf children with deaf parents probably same as hearing children (25%)
90% deaf children born into hearing families

8. Types of mental health problems
ADHD
Psychosis
Eating disorders
Behaviour problems
Attachment problems
Mood Problems
Self esteem/identity problems
Self Harm
Anxieties/phobias
(Autistic spectrum disorders)

9. ‘Deafness itself is not a risk for mental health needs, it is the consequences of being deaf in a hearing-oriented society.’
Helen Reed, NDCS 1996

10. Factors which may affect deaf children
Abuse (NDCS)
Communication problems
Family relationship difficulties (e.g. attachment)
Peer relationship difficulties
Self esteem/identity
Additional sensory, physical, learning difficulties
School
Isolation
“Failure” (academic and social)
Bullying

11. Additional difficulties
About 1/3 of deaf children have additional difficulties e.g.:
syndromes (eg. CHARGE, Waardenburg, Ushers)
causes of deafness such as meningitis, rubella, prematurity
Problems in identifying and assessing additional difficulties (e.g. learning difficulties and autism)

12. Deafness & Autism ASD diagnosis more common in deaf children BUT
Delayed Theory of Mind common when there is linguistic deprivation
Fewer opportunities for incidental learning

13. When to refer
If there are concerns about a child/young person’s mental health or behaviour.
Could be related to concerns about e.g. developmental disorder, communication disorder, learning disability.

14. Who can refer?
Professional who knows the child or young person such as a G.P., Social Worker, or Teacher of Deaf.
If in doubt – professionals can contact us for a consultation before referring.

15. What if I am a parent/carer?
We do not accept referrals from parents/carers.
Talk to a professional (G.P, ToD, Social worker), they can refer.

16. Referrals Process: Refer via referral form Key worker allocated
Communication profile
Assessment offered
Care plan/intervention agreed
Review

17. How do we help? Whole family work/family therapy Parenting work
Individual work
Specialist full team assessments

18. How do we help? Work with teachers and carers
Work with other agencies who may be involved
Communication (e.g. BSL letters)

19. Contact Details – York Deaf Children, Young People and Family
Service (National Deaf CAMHS)
Lime Trees
31 Shipton Road
York YO30 5RE
Tel:
Fax: