Infant, child and adolescent mental health — Waikato

The infant, child and adolescent mental health service (ICAMHS) is a free, community service in Waikato for tamariki and rangatahi up to 18 years old and their whānau.

Contact us

To contact Ngaa Ringa Awhina — for people in Hamilton and Cambridge:

To contact Thames Hospital — for people in Thames, Coromandel and Hauraki:

To contact ICAMHS — for people in South Waikato, Waipā, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo and Ruapehu:

Where to find us

For people in Hamilton and Cambridge:

Ngaa Ringa Awhina
195 Collingwood Street
Hamilton Lake
Hamilton 3204

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

195 Collingwood Street, Hamilton Lake — Google Maps (external link)

For people in Thames, Coromandel and Hauraki:

Maanaki Centre
Thames Hospital
610 MacKay Street
Thames 3500

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Thames Hospital — Google Maps (external link)

For people in South Waikato, Waipā, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo and Ruapehu:

Infant, child and adolescent mental health service
298 Alexandra Street
Te Awamutu 3800

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

298 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu — Google Maps (external link)

Services we provide

We provide assessment and treatment for tamariki and rangatahi with moderate to severe mental health problems who present with conditions such as (but not limited to):

  • anxiety disorder
  • depression
  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (including anorexia and bulimia)
  • suicidal thoughts and feelings
  • self-harm
  • drug and alcohol misuse.

We also accept referrals for pēpi and toddlers who present with significant social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

We offer a confidential and culturally safe service, which includes:

  • comprehensive assessment, including specialist tests and investigations, where indicated
  • a wide range of outpatient treatments including:
    • medications
    • psychological therapies
    • individual, group and family work
    • other appropriate interventions as indicated from the findings of the assessments.

There may be a wait before some treatments can be commenced.

If, after a thorough assessment and discussion with whānau, inpatient treatment is required then we access the Starship Hospital in Auckland.

The clinical team is multi-disciplinary, consisting of:

  • psychiatrists
  • clinical psychologists
  • psychiatric registrars
  • medical officers (specialist scale)
  • social workers
  • community mental health nurses
  • alcohol and drug clinicians
  • occupational therapists.

We also have a number of students/trainees from these areas, who work under close supervision. We operate in 3 clusters across the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waikato region:

  • Hamilton and Cambridge
  • Thames, Coromandel and Hauraki
  • South Waikato, Waipa, Otorohanga, Waitomo and Ruapehu.

Services that we don't provide

We cannot accept tamariki and rangatahi with problems related solely to:

  • intellectual disability (includes post head injury) with or without behavioural problems
  • learning difficulties
  • criminal activities (anti-social behaviours)
  • parenting difficulties.

The following services are not provided by us:

  • relationship services
  • family health counselling services
  • parenting services
  • general counselling services
  • psychological evaluations.

All clinicians are trained to carry out comprehensive assessments and to identify key areas in the treatment or management of moderate to severe mental health problems in children and adolescents.

Referral information

Anybody can make a referral, including the young person.

We get most of our referrals from:

  • healthcare providers such as GPs
  • whānau and friends
  • medical specialists
  • school guidance counsellors
  • Police Youth Aid
  • schools and education services
  • Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children
  • community groups.

We expect the healthcare provider to be informed and involved as the primary medical caregiver, even if they did not make the original referral.

A kaupapa Māori service is available.

Requirements

  • All tamariki and rangatahi under 16 years require their parent or caregiver's consent before a referral can proceed.
  • All tamariki and rangatahi will need to be accompanied by their parents or caregiver for at least their first attendance.