Psychiatry and Mental Health focuses on the evolving landscape of emotional, behavioural and developmental disorders in childhood and adolescence, offering evidence-based approaches for assessment, early intervention and systems-level integration. This session is designed for child and adolescent psychiatrists, paediatricians, psychologists, school counselors and primary care teams who share responsibility for identifying and managing conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioural disorders and crisis presentations. Key themes include scaling brief, validated screening tools into routine practice, stepped-care models that match intervention intensity to need, collaborative care frameworks embedding mental-health specialists within primary care, and digital therapeutics that augment face-to-face therapy. Presentations will explore pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic evidence, safety monitoring for psychotropic medications, and approaches to consent and assent in pediatric mental-health care.

Workshops will provide practical training in brief psychosocial interventions—problem-solving therapy, behavioural activation, and parent-management training—alongside triage pathways for acute risk and self-harm. Panels will examine school-based mental health services, pathways for timely referral, and community partnerships that expand access in low-resource settings. The agenda of Pediatric Psychiatry Conference will include sessions on neurodevelopmental comorbidity (autism spectrum disorder, ADHD) and how to individualise care plans that integrate behavioural therapies, educational accommodations and family supports. Discussions on equity will highlight cultural competence, screening for social determinants that worsen mental health, and strategies to reduce barriers to care for marginalized groups.

Implementation-focused modules include building collaborative care registries, outcome tracking using validated measures (e.g., PHQ-A, RCADS), and clinician-supported digital tools for monitoring progress between visits. Presenters will also cover safety-net workflows: rapid access clinics, crisis hotlines coordinated with emergency departments, and protocols for psychiatric liaison services. Attendees will receive templates: brief screening algorithms, stepped-care pathways, medication monitoring checklists and school communication templates to streamline coordination.