Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing

The specialist NHS mental-health service for children and young people in Kent and Medway, provided by Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust from 1 April 2026. It offers assessment and treatment for significant emotional-wellbeing and mental-health difficulties. Check the current service page for referral criteria and routes.

KCHFT’s service page describes autism clinics for children under 11 in north and west Kent and under 8 in south and east Kent. Children already accepted remain with the service if they pass its age cutoff while waiting. Confirm the appropriate referral route with the service, especially near an age boundary.

Published waits cover different assessment stages and include conflicting estimates. Read our NHS assessment routes and waiting times explanation, then check KCHFT’s current timelines with the service. An initial appointment is not necessarily a completed diagnosis. You can also find practical help while waiting.

KCHFT entry source checked 23 September 2026; individual referral eligibility and appointment dates remain for the service to confirm.

Autism Kent is a private assessment practice advertising child and adult autism assessments from Whitstable and online services. It is distinct from the Kent Autistic Trust; confirm the specific service, age threshold and appointment location directly.

Ask about the named assessment team, follow-up and report requirements. Older mentions of satellite locations should be confirmed before travelling.

Kent Emotional Wellbeing Teams and Medway Emotional Support Teams are the local Mental Health Support Teams. The NHS publishes a list of participating education settings. Ask the school whether it is covered and how to request support; coverage is expanding and should not be assumed for every school.

Targeted support and referral arrangements depend on the setting and need.