Higher CAMHS Referrals in South Bristol “Aren’t Always Negative”
Children and young people in south Bristol make up the highest numbers of referrals to the city’s Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). The figures were presented to councillors at Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, last week.
Hartcliffe and Withywood had the highest percentage of referrals, followed Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston in north Bristol. But, Filwood and Hengrove and Whitchurch Park in the south came third and fourth.
All of the areas in the top percentage of referrals feature a high density of social housing and areas of deprivation. The trend continued further down the data with Henbury and Brentry and Southmead wards in north Bristol and Lawrence Hill ward in East Central coming after.

In public forum, Sally Kent, questioned the fact that 20 per cent of all referrals come from just 3 ‘neighbouring’ wards in South Bristol. She asked for the reasons behind this, as well as the mitigations in place to meet the social, emotional and mental health needs of children and young people in those wards specifically.
An officer for Bristol City Council said that the higher rate of referrals “aren’t always negative” and can be attributed to “access” to services.
They said: “We are aware that Hartcliffe and Withywood, Filwood and Henbury and Benbury have the highest rate of referrals per 1,000 population (0-18 population). This isn’t necessarily a demonstration of higher need as referral process and behaviours will change by area. Higher referrals aren’t always negative, as it could be an indicator that people are able to refer and access services.
“Deprivation does however coincide with overall mental health need. We know that the more deprived the area the higher the mental health need. This mirrors the adult mental health population (21%) which is much higher; 27.5% in Decile 1 (most deprived) vs 17% in Decile 10 (least deprived).
“The map below shows the overall adult mental health prevalence/need across BNSSG. The same wards, show a higher prevalence.
“Correlation with adult mental health need, having a parent or living in a household with someone with mental health needs is an Adverse Childhood Experience measure that could contribute to a higher children’s mental health need.
“System health inequalities work will probably have the highest impact on the most deprived areas and is a mitigation.
“Specific CAMHS mitigations are the launch in January 2025 of 2 new referral pathways into the Mental Health in Schools Teams (via school nurses and via the Whole School Approach) which will help increase access. CAMHS are also increasing KOOTH and Off the Record activity to help meet children’s needs and to ensure their services are as accessible and acceptable for all children as possible.”
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