The Increasing Benefits of International Collaboration in Child Mental Health Research, Policy, Practice and Training

Abstract

The benefits and challenges of international collaboration in child mental health will be discussed, with particular focus on European networks and the important role of the EPA. The majority of findings and more robust designs originate from epidemiology, classification, measurement and cross-cultural research. These highlight the similarities in prevalence rates and aetiological mechanisms, as well as variation in certain psychosocial factors such as parenting styles and stigma. New studies are beginning to contrast similar treatment programmes. Evaluation of care pathways, service models and payment systems are still in their infancy. There is more promise in evidence-based standards such as in child protection, but also concerning differences in nationally determined areas like the age of criminal responsibility.

Examples of studies with centres from Europe, Iran, Pakistan, the Palestinian occupied territories, and an international consortium will be presented. There will be consideration of publication patterns in the research literature, which indicate that only 7% of papers reflect 90% of the global population, and how these could be improved in future years.

The substantial opportunities for training collaboration will also be discussed. Different training programmes, case examples, new technologies and evaluation data will be presented. In particular, a new training initiative for NGOs will hopefully improve access and input to large numbers of vulnerable children. In recent years, we have collaborated on a number of such training programmes across Europe, as well as low income countries like India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Egypt, the lessons of which will be shared.