Edited by
N. Singh, Commonwealth Institute for Child and Family Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia/VCU, PO Box 980489, Richmond, VA 23298-0489, USA
Dee Pang, Chinese University of Hong Kong
A. Singh, Commonwealth Institute for Child and Family Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia/VCU, PO Box 980489, Richmond, VA 23298-0489, USA
Description
There has been a major shift in the way we conceptualize and provide services to children and adolescents with mental health needs. We
are moving away from the traditional disorder-oriented model of treatment to a child-centered, family-focused service delivery system
that mandates mental health services in the context of the child's family and social ecology. This new system of care has spawned many
variations of the model, including wraparound services, multisystemic treatment (MST), futures planning, and person-centred planning.
As systems of care are different across countries and cultures, it is imperative that we share our knowledge and make explicit the
lessons we have learned in our attempts to provide services to children and adolescents which focus on improving their quality of life
rather than merely treating their psychiatric disorders and psychological problems. There is an urgent need to evaluate the various treatments
being offered to children and adolescents with mental health needs. Empirical date on outcomes will determine the funding and delivery
of services. As such, the latest research on treatment outcomes needs to be disseminated so that new and validated treatment methods
can be implemented rapidly.
Included in series
International Perspectives on Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Audience:
For mental health experts in the field of child/adolescent health care.
