Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
Treatment, referrals and insurance
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Seattle Children’s Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) is a treatment model that focuses on treating suicidal thoughts. This is different from a traditional approach that considers suicide as a symptom of depression or another psychiatric disorder and doesn’t always focus on treating the suicidal thinking. CAMS is offered through the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Clinic’s Mood and Anxiety Program.
Here is information on our treatment approach, referrals and insurance coverage.
Who can participate in CAMS?
We treat adolescents and teens ages 12 to 17 who have been referred for treatment to address their suicidal thoughts.
What does treatment include?
The provider and your child will work together to understand the cause of their suicidal thoughts and feelings. Your child will help develop their own treatment plan and will provide input on what is and is not working.
We use an honest and direct approach when talking about suicidal risk. We strive to understand suffering from an empathetic and nonjudgmental perspective, never shaming or blaming in treatment.
Who will we see?
You will see a clinical psychologist or master’s-level therapist during treatment.
How long is the treatment?
It typically takes about 8 to 12 sessions until your child’s suicidal thoughts are stabilized and we can refer them to another provider for therapy to treat depression.
Treatment sessions usually last 45 to 50 minutes. Depending on the availability of the clinician, sessions will be offered either by telehealth (virtual visit) or in person at Seattle Children’s Magnuson, located at 6901 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. You must be in the state of Washington for telehealth visits.
Can my child continue seeing their therapist during CAMS treatment?
Yes. Your child can see their regular therapist at Seattle Children’s or in the community along with their CAMS-trained therapist during CAMS treatment.
How can my child access CAMS treatment?
- New patients: You, your child’s current therapist or their primary care provider can refer them to our Mood and Anxiety Program for an evaluation with 1 of our providers. If your child’s primary concern is uicidal thinking, the provider may refer them for CAMS treatment.
- Patients already in treatment in our Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Clinic: Your child’s therapist may refer them for CAMS if they are experiencing increased suicidal thoughts and their therapist believes they would benefit from CAMS treatment.
Is CAMS covered by insurance?
Most insurance companies will cover CAMS treatment since it is billed as individual therapy. Use individual therapy procedure codes 90834 or 90837 (depending on the length of the session) when asking about coverage.
Check with your insurance company to see if the visits are covered. We are in network with most insurance plans, including Medicaid and the Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) plans.
Contact the Psychiatry Insurance Processing team at 206-987-2164, option 8, with questions. Learn more about mental health coverage at seattlechildrens.org/clinics/paying-for-care/insurance/mental-health-coverage.
To Learn More
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
206-987-2164 - Ask your child’s healthcare provider
- seattlechildrens.org/patient-education
Free Interpreter Services
- In the hospital, ask your nurse.
- From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.
