Mental Health Support Team (MHST) for children and young people

Change to Provider of MHST from 1st August 2025

From Friday 1 August 2025, the Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) covering West Berkshire, Reading, and Wokingham will be delivered by a new provider: Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT). 

New Contact Information (from Friday 1 August 2025) 

There will be some changes in how you contact the MHST after 1 August. 

If you need to get in touch with the MHST from 1 August, please use the following details: 

• Email: CAMHSWestMHSTs@berkshire.nhs.uk
• Phone: 0300 247 3002 

These contact details will only be available from Friday 1 August 2025. 

Making a referral to MHST

This change in provider means that the current process for referring a child or young person to the MHST will change after Friday 25 July 2025. 

You can continue to refer to the MHST via the Wokingham Borough Council online referral form up until 5pm on Friday 25 July 2025, after this date that process will no longer be in operation.

How to make a referral after Friday 25 July 2025

If you need urgent help for a child/young person (CYP) between 25 July and 1 August, follow the guidance on the BHFT website: I need urgent help now | Children Young People and Families Online Resource

If there are urgent and significant mental health or risk concerns, but no medical treatment is required, support is available via NHS111. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people who need help fast, but it is not an emergency. If necessary, NHS 111 will refer to the locality CAMHS team for further support. 

A young person should only be taken to A&E (or contact emergency services on 999) if they require urgent life-threatening emergency medical attention such as because they: 

• have recently taken an overdose
• ingested harmful liquids
• cut themselves significantly (deep cut/s and/or bleed profusely)
• burns that are blistering/red
• have lost consciousness

For any routine referrals, please hold the referral until 1 August. BHFT’ s website will be updated with the link to the new referral for the Wokingham MHST from that date. You can also find information and advice on the BHFT website: Mental and Emotional Health | Children Young People and Families Online Resource

Parent/carers will also be able to refer their child, or if the CYP is 16 and over, they can refer themselves by: requesting a referral form via: CAMHSWestMHSTs@Berkshire.nhs.uk  or by calling 0300 247 3002.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the new referral process or the transition more generally, please email: CAMHSSeniorLeadershipGroup@berkshire.nhs.uk.