Why was my child's referral not accepted by CAMHS?

There are different reasons why a referral might not be accepted into CAMHS and these should have been outlined and explained in the letter you received from us.
Children and young people’s difficulties can vary greatly, but generally a referral is not accepted when the national criteria for CAMHS is not met and where it is felt a child or young person’s needs can be better met elsewhere. CAMHS has a very specific specialist role to play in assessment and treatment and there are times when a referral into CAMHS is not appropriate or it isn’t the right time and there are other things we would recommend trying first.
Not accepting the referral doesn’t mean things aren’t difficult or that your child doesn’t need support. There are other services and supports locally and nationally which can be accessed for support and advice for your child and you. Have a look at our Things to Try page for local sources of support.