Child and Youth Mental Health Service Darling Downs Health

The Darling Downs Child and Youth Mental Health Service (Darling Downs CYMHS) offers a free and confidential service specialising in the assessment and treatment of children and young people (up to 18 years of age) who are experiencing, or at risk of developing, severe and complex emotional, behavioural or mental health problems.

Some mental health disorders and problems that we target include:

• depression and other disorders of mood regulation
• anxiety disorders
• non-accidental self-injury (self harm)
• suicidality
• early psychosis and psychotic disorders
• eating disorders
• trauma-related problems
• serious disturbances of attachment and carer-child relationships
• complex developmental and behavioural disorders
• emerging personality disturbances

The Child and Youth Mental Health Service within the Darling Downs region has four Community CYMHS teams, based in the South Burnett region, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, and Western Downs.

These Community CYMHS teams are multi-disciplinary, and consist of child psychiatrists and mental health professionals.  They offer a range of services tailored to the needs of the young person and their carers, including crisis intervention, inpatient support, mental health assessment, individual therapy, family intervention, group work, interagency consultation, and referral to other agencies.

All Community CYMHS teams are open from Monday to Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm (excl. public holidays).  

Referring to your Community CYMHS

Referrals can be made by doctors, schools, health professionals, carers and families, and young people themselves. To make a referral or to enquire about the service, please contact a Community CYMHS team. Referrals may be made via phone or utilising the CYMHS Referral Form which is to be faxed or emailed to your respective CYMHS team. Please note, if the young person is at immediate risk of injury to themselves or others, please call your local intake on the numbers provided or emergency services on 000.

Please see below for contact information or for a CYMHS team in your area. 

South Burnett region CYMHS

Based at Kingaroy.
Outreaches to other areas including Murgon, Wondai, Nanango, Yarraman, Blackbutt, Cherbourg and surrounding areas.
Phone: (07) 4162 9220
Fax: (07) 4162 9221
Address: Kingaroy Hospital, 166 Youngman Street, Kingaroy, 4610 

Southern Downs CYMHS

Based at Warwick, Goondiwindi.
Outreaches to other areas including Stanthorpe, Inglewood, Clifton, Killarney, and Allora.
Phone: (07) 4660 3901
Fax:  (07) 4660 3727
Address: Locke Street Specialist Centre, 56 Locke Street, Warwick, 4370

Toowoomba CYMHS

Based at Toowoomba.
Outreaches to other areas including Oakey, Crows Nest, Pittsworth, Millmerran Township 
Phone: (07) 4616 6843
Fax: (07) 4616 5399
Address: Unara Health Village, Toowoomba Hospital, Pechey Street, Toowoomba, 4350

To assist schools with referrals for students in the Toowoomba region please see our Toowoomba CYMHS School Referral Decision Flowchart.

Western Downs CYMHS

Based at Dalby and Chinchilla.
Outreaches to Tara, Jandowae, Miles, Taroom, Wandoan and surrounding areas
Phone: (07) 4669 0501
Fax:  (07) 4669 0794
Address: Dalby Hospital, Hospital Road, Dalby, 4405

Other Teams Within The CYMHS

Other teams within the Darling Downs CYMHS include:

• Assertive Mobile Youth Outreach Service
• Evolve Therapeutic Services (referrals from the Department of Child Safety only)
• Yannanda Adolescent Inpatient Unit
• Yannanda Adolescent Day Program

These teams have a CYMHS referral pathway. If you would like more information please contact your local CYMHS.

Other CYMHS Services

Courses, groups and other services offered by CYMHS:

Children of Parents with Mental Illness (COPMI)

COPMI is a national initiative that aims to support families living with mental illness, and improve the outcomes for children in those families. There are 2 COPMI groups that are run: Kids Club for primary-school-aged children and the Koping Adolescent Group for high-school-aged children. 

These groups aim to improve young people’s resilience by building on a number of life skills, including: developing an understanding of mental illness, coping skills, self-care, time-management, and seeking help.  The group gives participants the chance to connect with other young people with similar experiences.

Do As I Do

A program designed to help parents help their children by providing them with a positive parental model of anxiety management.

Circle of Security

A relationship-based early intervention program to enhance attachment security between parents and children.

Parent and Carer Skills Based Training for Eating Disorders

This group delivers parent / carer skills based training for families affected by eating disorders. This group is for families who have a loved one with this illness, with learning topics including understand more about eating disorders, helpful communication skills, developing positive coping strategies and fostering a healthier relationship with your loved one.

Please note that these groups are not run at all times, or by all CYMHS teams. Please contact your local CYMHS for details regarding group options.

Indigenous Mental Health Support

The Indigenous Mental Health Worker delivers culturally sensitive and accessible services for the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander consumers of Yannanda Adolescent Unit, Day Program, CCYMHS & EVOLVE. This role provides advocacy, support and education to improve the mental health journey for Indigenous consumers and communities.

Learning Support Groups for Foster carers and Education for Professionals

In addition to providing specialist trauma-informed mental health intervention to children/young people (both individual and systemic), Evolve Therapeutic Services (ETS) also have a wider focus on as psycho-education and skill development. Specifically, ETS teams provide education and learning support groups for foster-parents and other carers, and education for professionals from key government and non government agencies on the specific and complex needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

Please contact ETS Toowoomba for information regarding professional development and training on: 07 4616 5365.

Ed LinQ

Ed LinQ supports schools and other agencies that work with young people to improve the wellbeing of their students and clients.  The Ed LinQ Co-ordinator can offer mental health education, access to resources, and advice on available services and referral pathways. Please call (07) 4616 5746 for further information.