CAMHS Crisis Care: Free 24/7 NHS Mental Health Service for Children & Young People

What is CAMHS Crisis Care?

CAMHS Crisis Care provides urgent mental health support for children and young people under 18 in Croydon who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The crisis line operates 9am to 11pm every day of the year (including weekends and bank holidays), ensuring young people can access specialist support when they need it most; outside those hours, Croydon University Hospital A&E provides 24/7 access. Run by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, the team includes specialist child and adolescent mental health professionals trained in crisis intervention.

The service is part of Croydon's comprehensive CAMHS provision, working alongside the main CAMHS service at Christopher Wren House for ongoing support and the Mental Health Support Team working in schools.

Who Can Use CAMHS Crisis Care?

The service is for children and young people under 18 who live in Croydon and are experiencing a psychiatric emergency. This includes young people experiencing suicidal thoughts, severe self-harm, acute psychotic symptoms, or any other crisis that can't wait for the next working day. Parents, carers, and professionals can also contact the service on behalf of a young person they're concerned about.

How Do I Access CAMHS Crisis Care?

Call the CAMHS Crisis Line on 020 3228 5980, open 9am to 11pm every day. You can also attend Croydon University Hospital A&E at any time (24/7), where the crisis team can assess young people presenting with mental health emergencies.

What Should I Expect?

If a young person is in crisis, the team can provide rapid assessment and intervention. The team works closely with Croydon University Hospital A&E, where young people can be assessed by specialist child and adolescent mental health professionals. Following assessment, the team develops a safety plan tailored to the young person and coordinates appropriate follow-up care, which may include brief community intervention or referral to ongoing CAMHS support.