'The type of self-harm we have witnessed is the worst we have seen,' says one expert on children's mental health.

North West BBC Tonight has been given unique access to spend a day with the team at its Alder Hey Children's Hospital section, which is often the first point of contact for young people dealing with their mental health.

We witness firsthand the difficulties that those on the front lines face.

The phones are ringing just before 10:00 GMT on a Tuesday morning in November.

A worried mother calls Zoe Bentley, a senior mental health practitioner, every day, informing her that her son wants to commit suicide.

He is currently on the waiting list for CAMHS.

After 15 minutes on the phone, they have devised a plan to bring him in for an emergency examination by one of the clinical nurses.

"You can image how distressing it is for a youngster to voice suicidal ideation to a parent every single day," Zoe adds.

"However, what parents often overlook is that their child's ability to communicate his or her feelings to them is a plus."

"We need to be able to empower those parents and provide them with safety plans while also letting them know that we're available at any time - day or night - if it all becomes too much."

The team consists of qualified specialists who are ready to pick up the phone and assist children and their families who are in crisis.

The team is extremely busy right now, with a 43 percent rise in referral calls year over year.

"The majority of my job is to reassure families and work with them to develop a plan to deal with the current crisis," Ricky Zdrenka, a senior mental health practitioner, explains.

"However, there are instances when you have to put the phone down and take a deep breath in response to what you've just heard, which can be quite distressing for the employees as well as the families involved."

The phone rings once again. A young kid has been brought in after taking an overdose, according to the hospital's A&E department.

Later, a senior mental health nurse will visit with them to assess the young person and work out a plan of action with them and their family.

Ricky Zdrenka assists families in developing a plan for their child's care.

What has surprised the team the most in recent months is the level of intent behind the self-harm and the age of the young individuals involved. Many of them aren't even in their adolescent years.

Dr. Sally Al-Bachari, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, says, "The sorts of self-harm that we're dealing with are different and worse than we've ever seen before."

"Attempts to end life are continuing at the highest intensity we've ever seen."

Dr. Alys Cawson receives another phone call from reception.

Another young person has been brought in for an urgent examination after attempting suicide, she has been told.

"We're still concerned about their risk," Dr. Cawson says after the assessment. "However, we believe we can manage it in the community."

"While they wait to be seen by CAMHS, we're going to provide a little more crisis help."

According to Dr. Sally Al-Bachari, this is the worst case of self-harm she has ever encountered.

By 5 p.m., the team had seen three young individuals who had come to A&E and had received the same number of emergency referrals.

With the exception of one, they had all made serious attempts to harm themselves.

And the employees are only halfway through a 12-hour workday.

Since April, nearly 400 children and young people have visited A&E due to mental health issues.

'We always strive to make them feel at ease.' 'The young people can tell when they aren't managing.' 'Being able to speak led me to speech therapy.'

One of the most significant rises has been in the eating disorder team, which has witnessed a 300 percent increase in inpatient admissions compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

"What we've observed is a big increase in wait times for our fundamental community-based programs," says Lisa Cooper, director of community and mental health services.

"What we really want to do is make sure that we support children and young people far sooner in their lives, rather than waiting until they are at their lowest point."

According to Lisa Cooper, wait times have dramatically increased.

Within 18 weeks, more than 65 percent of young individuals referred to CAMHS are seen.

However, a third of patients must wait longer than four months for treatment.

To meet the increased demand, the crisis team has hired six additional employees and is trying to hire more.

They want to conduct more home assessments to prevent young people from ending up in the hospital.

By the spring, the team will have moved into its new hub next to the main hospital, integrating all mental health services under one roof.

While development on the unit's new facility continues, Dr. Al-Bachari encourages young people and their families to contact if they need assistance.

"That is why we have come. The main source of concern is that people aren't seeking aid and support "she explains.

"The earlier they do that and receive that care and support, the better for that youngster or young person's outcome."

More on this topic will be broadcast on BBC North West Tonight at 18:30 GMT on Thursday, December 9, 2021, and will be available afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.