Mental Health Referrals for Children and Teenagers: headspace, CAMHS and School Pathways

Where to Start When You Are Worried About a Young Person

When a child or teenager is struggling, parents often feel they need to find the one correct door before doing anything. In reality, Australia has several pathways that work alongside each other rather than in a strict sequence, and starting with any sensible one is better than waiting to find the perfect one. A GP can prepare a mental health referral and plan, headspace centres see young people directly, schools have wellbeing staff, and state services support more complex needs. This guide explains what each does, who it suits, and how referrals into them work.

It is written for parents and carers, but young people can use every pathway described here themselves, and older teenagers often prefer to. Wherever possible, involve the young person in deciding where to start. Support they have chosen is support they are more likely to use.

headspace: What It Is and How Referral Works

headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, supporting young people aged 12 to 25. It has centres across Australia and online and phone support through eheadspace. headspace centres can help with mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study support, which reflects how interconnected these areas often are for young people.

A headspace referral is usually not required. Young people can contact a centre themselves, and parents, schools, GPs and others can also help them connect. Some services at headspace are free and others may attract a fee depending on the centre and the service, so ask when making contact. Where ongoing psychology is involved, a GP mental health plan may make sessions eligible for a Medicare rebate, and some centres have GPs on site who can prepare it.

When headspace Is a Good Fit

headspace suits young people with mild to moderate difficulties, such as ongoing worry, low mood, stress, relationship problems or difficulties at school or work. Its youth-friendly setting can make the first step easier for young people who would never walk into a traditional clinic. It is not an emergency service. Young people at immediate risk need crisis support or an emergency department.

CAMHS and CYMHS: The Public Specialist Services

Each state and territory runs specialist public mental health services for children and young people, commonly called CAMHS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, or CYMHS, Child and Youth Mental Health Services. The name differs between states, as do the age ranges and exact services, but the purpose is similar: specialist assessment and treatment for children and young people with more complex or severe mental health needs.

A CAMHS or CYMHS referral usually comes from a GP, paediatrician, school, hospital or another health service, though some services also accept contact from families directly through an intake line. Clinicians generally triage referrals, and services prioritise young people with the greatest need, so waiting times vary. HealthDirect can help you find the service for your area.

How CAMHS Differs From headspace

The simplest way to think about it: headspace is designed as an accessible early entry point for a broad range of concerns, while CAMHS and CYMHS provide specialist care for more complex or serious needs. A young person may start at headspace and be linked to CAMHS if their needs turn out to be more complex, or be referred to CAMHS directly by a doctor if the situation calls for it from the start.

Your GP’s Role

A GP is often the most practical first step, and their role is broader than many parents realise. A GP can assess what is going on, check for physical health issues that may be affecting mood or behaviour, prepare a mental health plan, and refer to a psychologist, paediatrician, psychiatrist or public service as needed. They can also coordinate between services, which becomes important when several are involved.

Mental health plans are available for children and young people, not just adults, and they can make a set number of psychology sessions each year eligible for a Medicare rebate. For how that pathway works in more detail, and whether a referral is needed at all, see our guide on whether you need a referral to see a psychologist.

Preparing for the GP Appointment

• Note what you have noticed, when it started, and whether it is getting better or worse.
• Think about sleep, eating, school attendance, friendships and interest in usual activities.
• Ask the young person what they would like the GP to know, and whether they want time alone with the GP.
• Bring any relevant school reports or letters from other professionals.
• Write down your own questions, since appointments move quickly.

School-Based Support

Schools are a parallel pathway, not a replacement for health care. Many schools have wellbeing coordinators, school counsellors or school psychologists who can support students directly, notice changes early and help coordinate with families and health services. The Department of Education and state education departments support student wellbeing programs, though what is available differs by school and sector.

Telling the school what is happening, with the young person’s agreement where possible, often helps. Teachers can adjust workload, attendance, or seating, and wellbeing staff can provide a familiar point of contact during the school day. Schools can also help connect families to headspace or other services.

Paediatricians and Psychiatrists

Some children are referred to a paediatrician, a doctor who specialises in children’s health, particularly when development, behaviour, or learning are part of the picture, or when physical health needs to be considered alongside mental health. Others may need a child and adolescent psychiatrist, a medical specialist in young people’s mental health, for more complex assessment or treatment. Both usually require a GP referral, and both can have long waiting lists in many areas, which is one more reason to start the process early.

Consent and Confidentiality for Young People

This is one of the areas parents find most unsettling, so it is worth understanding clearly. As young people mature, they gain the right to make decisions about their own health care and to keep information confidential, including from their parents. There is no single age at which this switches on. Health professionals consider whether a young person understands their situation and the decision in front of them, which is often described as being a mature minor.

In practice, many GPs and psychologists will want to spend part of an appointment alone with a teenager. This is standard practice, not a sign of anything wrong, and it often helps young people speak openly. Medicare also changes around the mid-teens, when young people can have more control over their own Medicare information and may get their own Medicare card. Health professionals will generally encourage young people to involve their parents, and will break confidentiality where there is a serious risk to the young person’s safety or someone else’s. For how referral information is shared more generally, see referral privacy and consent.

Supporting Without Taking Over

Respecting a young person’s privacy does not mean stepping back entirely. You can still offer to book appointments, provide transport, help them prepare questions, and let them know you are available to talk. Asking what support they would like from you is often more effective than guessing.

If It Is Urgent

If a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. For urgent support that is not an emergency, Kids Helpline, on 1800 55 1800, is free and available any time for young people aged 5 to 25. Parents and carers can get advice through the Parentline service in their state or territory. Lifeline, on 13 11 14, is available to people of any age. Kids Helpline also offers webchat, which some young people find easier than a phone call.

Many state services also run mental health crisis or triage lines that can advise on urgent situations and arrange assessment. Your GP or local hospital can tell you the number for your area. It is worth saving it in your phone before you ever need it.

Signs It Is Worth Seeking Help

Every child has difficult periods, and not every change needs professional help. It is worth talking to someone if you notice changes like these that last more than a couple of weeks or are getting worse:

• Withdrawing from friends, family or activities they used to enjoy.
• Big changes in sleep, eating or energy.
• Persistent sadness, irritability, worry or anger.
• Difficulty going to school, or a sudden drop in school performance.
• Talking about feeling hopeless, worthless or like a burden.
• Any talk of self-harm or suicide, which always needs a prompt response.

You do not need to be sure something is wrong before asking for help. A conversation with a GP or school wellbeing staff can help work out whether a change is part of normal development or needs support.

What Happens at a First Appointment

Knowing what to expect can make a first appointment less daunting for a young person. The GP, psychologist or headspace worker will usually start by getting to know them: how things are going at home, at school or work, with friends, and in how they are feeling. They will explain confidentiality in plain terms. With teenagers, part of the appointment is often with the young person alone. Nobody expects them to have the right words, and it is fine for them to say they do not know, or that something is hard to talk about.

Development, Learning and Behaviour

Sometimes what looks like a mental health concern is connected to development, learning or attention, or sits alongside one. Assessments for developmental or learning differences are often carried out by paediatricians, child psychologists or multidisciplinary teams, and waiting times can be long. If you have concerns in these areas, raise them with your GP early, since getting on a waiting list sooner can make a real difference. Schools can often provide useful observations to support an assessment.

Eating and Body Image Concerns

Changes in eating, a preoccupation with weight or body shape, or secretive behaviour around food are worth taking seriously and raising with a GP promptly, because early support matters. The GP can check physical health as well as discuss next steps and referrals. The Butterfly Foundation offers a free national helpline, on 1800 33 4673, for young people and families concerned about eating or body image.

Bullying, Online Life and Social Pressure

Bullying, including online bullying, can have a significant effect on a young person’s wellbeing. Schools have policies for responding to bullying and should be told if it is happening. For serious online bullying, image-based abuse or harmful online content, the eSafety Commissioner can help, including by having harmful content removed. Talking openly about online life, without immediately banning devices, often makes young people more willing to share what is going on.

Young People From Diverse Backgrounds

Every young person should be able to access support that feels safe and respectful. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people can access culturally safe services, including through Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, and 13YARN offers crisis support by and for First Nations people. LGBTIQ+ young people can contact QLife for peer support. Families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can ask for interpreters and look for services with experience in their community.

When Your Child Does Not Want Help

It is common for young people to refuse help, at least at first. Pushing hard often makes things worse. Keep the door open, let them know you are there, and suggest options they can use on their own terms, such as eheadspace online chat or Kids Helpline webchat. You can also see a GP yourself, or call the Parentline in your state, for advice on how to support them. If you are worried about their immediate safety, act on that regardless of whether they agree.

Moving Into Adult Services

Youth services have age limits, and the move into adult services is a point where young people can fall through the gaps. Child and adolescent services often transition young people to adult services in their late teens, while headspace supports people up to 25. Plan this transition early with the treating team, so records, referrals and relationships carry over rather than restarting from nothing. A regular GP provides continuity across that change, which is another reason to keep one involved.

Cost and Access

Cost varies across pathways. Public CAMHS and CYMHS services generally involve no direct fee. headspace offers some services free and others at low cost depending on the centre. Private psychology usually involves a fee, reduced by a Medicare rebate if a mental health plan is in place. Some psychologists bulk bill children or families in hardship, so ask when booking.

Telehealth has widened access considerably, particularly outside cities. Many psychologists see young people by video, and eheadspace provides online and phone support nationally. Some young people find talking by video or chat easier than sitting in a room, while others prefer face to face. Let them try what suits them. Prime Medic’s mental health services include GP mental health consultations that can be the first step for families who find it hard to get a local appointment quickly.

Waiting Lists and What to Do Meanwhile

Waiting times for child psychologists, paediatricians and public services can be long. If you are on a waiting list, do not simply wait. Keep in contact with your GP, who can review how things are going and adjust the plan. Use headspace, Kids Helpline and school wellbeing support in the meantime. And if things get worse while you wait, seek help sooner rather than holding your place in a queue. A referral in progress does not mean support has to pause.

Looking After Yourself as a Parent

Supporting a child through mental health difficulties is exhausting and often frightening. Parents who look after their own wellbeing are better able to support their children. Talk to your own GP if you are struggling, lean on trusted friends or family, and consider parenting support services, many of which are free. Parent lines in each state and headspace’s resources for families can help you work out how to support your child and yourself at the same time.

Siblings and the Rest of the Family

When one child is struggling, the whole family feels it. Brothers and sisters may be worried, confused or feel overlooked while attention goes to their sibling. Age-appropriate honesty, protected one-to-one time, and letting them ask questions all help. If a sibling is also struggling, their needs deserve attention in their own right, and the same pathways described here apply to them.

A Simple Place to Start

1. If there is immediate risk, call 000 or go to an emergency department.
2. Talk with your child about what they are experiencing and what help they would like.
3. Book a GP appointment, and ask about a mental health plan if psychology might help.
4. For young people aged 12 to 25, consider contacting headspace directly.
5. Let the school know, with your child’s agreement, so support can extend into the school day.
6. Keep checking in, and seek a review if things are not improving.

IF YOU NEED SUPPORT RIGHT NOW

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (24 hours, for young people aged 5 to 25)

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24 hours, every day)

Emergency: 000, or go to your nearest emergency department, if life is at risk

13YARN: 13 92 76 (24 hours, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support)

These services are free to call. A booked appointment is not the right pathway if a young person needs help right now.