• Email: gedheilsumidstod.barna@heilsugaeslan.is

• Secure data transfer via Signet Transfer

Exact information regarding waiting list status can not be provided. Intake from the waiting list depends on the referral reception date and the type of service to which the child has been referred.

For information about the current intake status, an email may be sent to the Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Center intake team. An automated reply will provide information regarding which referral periods are currently being invited from the waiting list.

• Email: inntaka@heilsugaeslan.is

There is no need to contact the center about a referral. All referrals are acknowledged with a letter sent via Heilsuvera. Parents and/or adolescents will be contacted when it is possible to offer an appointment or diagnostic assessment.

At the age of 16, adolescents become independent service users within the Icelandic healthcare system. Adolescents retain their place on the waiting list even if they turn 18 while waiting.

During the waiting period, responsibility for services related to the child’s difficulties lies with the referring professional. Attention is drawn to the Act on the Integration of Services in the Interest of Children’s Prosperity (No. 86/2021), which states that children have the right to services without barriers, and that a formal diagnosis is not required for a child to receive appropriate services.

The diagnostic teams conduct comprehensive assessments of children and adolescents up to 18 years of age when there are strong indications of ADHD, autism spectrum symptoms, or related disorders such as emotional difficulties, behavioral problems, and social communication difficulties.

There are two diagnostic teams. One services younger children aged 6 to 12. The other services children aged 13 to 18.

A prerequisite for referral to a diagnostic team is that an initial assessment has indicated difficulties that cause impairment in daily functioning. If the initial assessment suggests mild or moderate difficulties, an intervention in the child’s environment should be attempted first. An initial assessment is not required for adolescents aged 16 to 18, but a thorough mapping indicating significant functional impairment is necessary.

If concerns relate to global developmental delay, language disorders, or specific learning difficulties, the matter falls under school services rather than CAMHC. Children should not be referred for further assessment if they are already on a waiting list with another diagnostic provider.

The counselling and treatment team provides counselling and treatment for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age with moderate to severe mental health difficulties requiring a multidisciplinary approach. The services are considered secondary-level mental health care.

Service users are children and adolescents who require more extensive services than those available at the primary level but do not require specialized tertiary care or emergency services. The team also provides consultation to professionals and other service providers nationwide.

Referral to Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Center is recommended only after preparatory work has been completed and local resources have been explored. The service is time-limited and focuses on connecting individuals and families with local or other appropriate services as needed.

The family team provides services for expectant parents and parents of young children who require attachment-focused treatment, for example due to parental distress or complex and/or multifaceted difficulties. Services are also provided when there are concerns about a child’s wellbeing or development.

The team’s services are considered secondary-level mental health care. The goal of the family team’s involvement is to promote secure attachment between parents and children and to support parents during challenging periods, with family wellbeing as the guiding principle. The team also provides consultation to professionals and other service providers nationwide.

The team’s core approach is attachment-based, with treatment tailored to the needs of service users. Evidence-based attachment-focused therapies and interventions are used.