Selected question
Children, young people and families
Finding the right support can feel complicated.
A practical guide to childhood mental health, neurodiversity and navigating support in Plymouth.
✓You do not need all the answers first. Start with what is making everyday life harder.
Need urgent help?If someone’s life is at risk, they have seriously harmed themselves or you cannot keep them safe, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent mental-health help that is not an emergency, call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option.
NHS urgent-help guidance →Choose by need
What is the main concern today?
Mental health and neurodiversity can overlap. Choose the route that best matches the immediate difficulty—you are not choosing a permanent label.
Feelings and safety
Mental health or emotional wellbeing
Anxiety, low mood, eating difficulties, self-harm, distress, trauma or changes in sleep and behaviour.
See mental-health routes →Development and differencesNeurodiversity or SEND
Autism, ADHD, communication, sensory needs, learning, routines, social interaction or development.
See neurodiversity routes →Not sure yetHelp me find a starting point
Search support by age and need, including mental health, neurodiversity, SEND, school and family support.
Search support by need →Mental health and emotional wellbeing
Choose the next action.
These links take you directly to early support, CAMHS or urgent-help information. If you are unsure, use the resource finder above.
Everyday and early support
Ask what support can start at school or college
Find out about Plymouth’s Mental Health Support Team and support available through education settings.
Open early-support information →Moderate to severe difficultiesContact CAMHS Early Help
Parents, carers and young people aged 5–18 can request help directly and use the advice line to discuss options.
Open the CAMHS pathway →Urgent or emergencyGet urgent mental-health help
Call 111 and select the mental-health option. Call 999 or go to A&E if someone’s life is at risk or you cannot keep them safe.
Open urgent-help guidance →Neurodiversity and SEND
Support can begin before diagnosis.
Focus first on the child’s strengths, needs and daily experience.
Education support
Ask the teacher or SENCO which adjustments can be tried and how progress will be reviewed.
Explore Plymouth’s SEND Local Offer →Family advice
Plymouth’s Neurodiversity Wellbeing Team can support eligible families before or after diagnosis.
Open the wellbeing-team page →Explore assessment
Parents and education complete INAP sections, then Pathfields reviews the information and completes the health section.
Read the INAP guide →Find mental-health, neurodiversity, SEND, school and parenting resources.
Open resource directory →From Plymouth CDC
Frequently asked questions on video.
Dr Maria Williams speaks with a consultant from Plymouth Child Development Centre about common family questions.
Six short answers · approximately one minute eachPrefer the complete conversation?Watch the full CDC interview · 15 minutes
Professionally filmed for Pathfields Medical Group. General information only; individual assessment and advice will depend on your child’s circumstances.