In May 2026, our Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) teams attended the Cheshire West and Chester Parent and Carer Forum at Vicars Cross Golf Club in Chester.
The forum and presentations were about Education, Inclusion & Mental Health. Representatives from the care group, Participation and Engagement, and our Cheshire West Learning Disability team (LD CAMHS), Mental Health Support Team (MHST), and 0-18 CYPMHS team shared information about our local services and the MyMind website.
From the day, we’ve put together your questions for our teams and included our answers.
Referrals
You said: What is the threshold to meet the criteria for your services?
We replied: Children and young people under 18 experiencing ongoing emotion wellbeing difficulties, with or without behaviour difficulties can be referred to our services.
These difficulties may affect you or your child’s school life, learning, friendships, family life, daily routines, and development.
The team look at the following: how serious it is, how often it happens, how long it has been happening, and how these impacts on everyday life.
Examples of difficulties we support:
- Ongoing low mood that is affecting everyday life
- Ongoing high levels of anxiety that are affecting everyday life
- Compulsive behaviours or routines that interference with everyday life
- Serious attachment difficulties that have a significant impact on the child or young person and/or family life
- Seeing or hearing things that other do not, unusual beliefs, paranoia, a decline in self-care, changes in social or family life, or disinhibited behaviour. (This support is provided in partnership with the Early Intervention in Psychosis team)
- Eating difficulties, including restricting food, low weight or rapid weight loss, binge eating, or vomiting linked to worries about body image
- A moderate to service trauma response lasting more that a month after a traumatic event, where everyday life is being significantly affected
- Serious emotional dysregulation, including ongoing and severe self-harm, suicidal thoughts, difficulties in relationships, and significant impact on everyday functioning
We also consider the needs of children and young people with additional needs, such as an intellectual disability, neurodevelopmental differences, or younger children where this is clinically appropriate.
What happens next?
- Referral is received and reviewed
- Risk and needs considered
- Family and young views included
- The team will decide the most suitable support pathway
- Urgent (As needed)
- Soon (Priority)
- Routine (Standard)
Decisions are based on clinical judgement. This includes looking at risk, safeguarding, the support that is most likely to help, and the views of the child or young person and their family.
We are here to listen, support, and work together with you and your child or young person.
ADHD Support in Cheshire West and Chester
You said: What ADHD support is there in Cheshire West and Chester
We replied: Our 'helping myself' section on MyMind contains a range of self-help resources and guidance across Cheshire and Wirral, including ADHD Resources in West Cheshire, East Cheshire, and Wirral.
You can also learn more about our ADHD and Autism Services in Cheshire.
Mental Health Support Teams in schools
You said: Is my school an MHST school? How do I find out if it is?
We replied: There is a list of MHST schools on the Live Well Cheshire West website.
You said: If my school is not an MHST school, where can I go to access the parenting courses like From Timid to Tiger, Triple P Fear-less, and Riding the Rapids?
We replied: You would need a referral to the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Hub. This can either be done by:
- a professional, such as your GP, school nurse, family support worker, etc.
- making a self-referral via the MyMind website.
You said: My young person is experiencing anxiety - what support and resources are available?
We replied: There are many resources available, such as:
- The MyMind website, which has a specific page on anxiety with numerous resources for West Cheshire.
- Get Self Help.
- Orcha Health, who have many apps for young people’s anxiety
Thank you Cheshire West and Chester Parent Carer Forum for having us, and everyone who came over to speak with us.
