Many young people first seek support for emotional distress in schools, primary care clinics, or community spaces rather than specialist services. This session on Community Mental Health Integration for Youth explores how pediatric and mental health teams can collaborate with education, social care, and community organisations to build accessible, stigma-reducing support systems. Instead of relying solely on hospital-based care, the focus is on bringing evidence-based prevention, early intervention, and ongoing support closer to where adolescents live, learn, and socialise.

Professionals increasingly attend Pediatrics Conference to understand how to design and implement community-based models that are both effective and sustainable. In this session, participants will examine frameworks for stepped-care, school-based mental health programmes, youth hubs, and integrated primary care models. Case examples will highlight initiatives that improve access for marginalised groups, reduce waiting times, and decrease crisis presentations by providing timely, developmentally appropriate support. The discussion also addresses how to use data and youth feedback to refine services and ensure they remain relevant.

A central theme is building strong community youth mental health networks that link pediatric services, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, social work, and youth-led organisations. Participants will explore practical strategies for shared care planning, joint training, cross-agency communication, and navigation support for families. Attention is given to confidentiality, consent, and information-sharing frameworks that protect young people’s rights while enabling coordinated care. The session also considers how to embed culturally aware, trauma-informed, and gender-sensitive practices across community settings.

The session further examines the roles of digital tools, peer support, and families in integrated care models. Attendees will discuss when telehealth, online groups, and digital therapeutics can extend reach, and when face-to-face contact is essential. Examples of peer-led programmes and family-inclusive interventions will illustrate how non-clinical supports can complement professional services. By the end, participants will have practical ideas, language, and planning tools to help their communities shift from fragmented, crisis-driven systems toward coherent, youth-centred mental health ecosystems.