CAMHSAN

Introduction:

Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) is a critical yet often neglected aspect of public health worldwide. With the rising prevalence of mental health disorders among young people, there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to address this issue. Also, the need to involve children and adolescents in decision-making processes related to their mental health is crucial.

An international conference on child and adolescent mental health aims to bring together experts, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the globe to exchange knowledge, share best practices, stimulate dialogue and collaborate on strategies to improve mental health outcomes for children and adolescents.

Global estimates suggest that more than 13% of adolescents aged 10–19  years have a mental disorder with an estimated 10–20% of children and adolescents worldwide experiencing mental health challenges, with half of the mental health conditions beginning by age 14. One in four children lived with a parent with a mental health condition. South Asia, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, is home to over 600 million children and adolescents aged 0–19 years. Data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Survey suggest that this region’s adolescent mental health problems range from 10–12%. Looking at the significant impact and burden of CAMH in South Asia region and lack of services for these children, there is an urgent need to act. Thus, a concept of a regional network for child and adolescent mental health was envisioned, which became CAMHSAN.