Health professionals and UNICEF call for support for the development of child and adolescent mental health services, at national conference in Sibiu

SIBIU, April 10, 2024. The 19th edition of the National Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health will be held in Sibiu on April 11-13, 2024, at the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Medicine. The theme of this year's event, supported by UNICEF, is "Prevention and Early Intervention in Youth Mental Health".

The organizers of the conference aim to promote the mental health of children and adolescents, to ensure  children's rights to harmonious development and to disseminate the latest scientific and experimental information in this field.

During the three days, guests from the most prestigious universities in the country, as well as specialists from abroad, will bring current and interesting perspectives to mental health research and practice.

"The organization of this year's event benefits from an exceptional collaboration and the support of the "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry Sibiu and UNICEF Romania, to which we would like to thank. The scientific programme addresses a wide range of topics, including Substance Use among Adolescents, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and its Comorbidities, Gender Incongruence among Children and Adolescents, Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Children's Mental Health", said Conf. Dr. Florina Rad, President of the Romanian Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Associated Professions.

"This year, for the first time, the National Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health will be held in Sibiu. We are happy to contribute to the organization of the event, in the context in which mental health problems in this age group have become more and more important in recent years, the need for information and prevention being particularly important", said Conf. Dr Ciprian Băcilă, "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, Medical Director of the "Dr. Gheorghe Preda" Psychiatric Hospital in Sibiu.

Children and adolescents have a right to good mental health and well-being. Increased investment at the community level is needed to make this right a reality for children and adolescents.

According to data from a UNICEF snapshot report on the mental health of children and adolescents in Romania, about 22,000 children and adolescents live with a diagnosis of mental illness, and many others face various developmental, emotional or cognitive disorders. Children and adolescents with mental health problems face social stigma and discrimination, and are at risk of engaging in risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol and drug use, or dropping out of school. Romanian children and adolescents are much more affected than children in other countries, according to the UNICEF report. 33% of 11- to 15-year-old adolescents feel sad more than once a week, compared with an average of 13% in the 45 countries included in a World Health Organization study.

In addition to urgently increasing investment in child and adolescent mental health, UNICEF is calling for support for prevention in the family through programs that promote positive parenting and caregiver well-being. Taking the right steps to address stigma and discrimination, and changing the global conversation and public perception of mental health is also a focus for UNICEF.

On the first day of the event a round table will be organized on "Substance use among children and adolescents in Romania" with the participation of representatives from important fields for the mental health of children and adolescents.

"Mental health is a right of all children and adolescents, included in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and on which the fulfillment of all other fundamental rights included in this treaty, ratified by Romania 34 years ago, depends.  The event, which starts today in Sibiu, brings together leading specialists and relevant actors in this field. By benefiting from their expertise and working together with government and civil society partners, we can take the necessary steps to improve the mental health of children and adolescents in Romania," said Anna Riatti, UNICEF Representative in Romania.