CAMHEE-Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Enlarged EU – Development of Effective Policies and Practices (2007-2009)

Funded by

European Commission - DG Health and Consumers

Duration

From 2007 to 2009

Summary

The project aims to provide a set of recommendations and guidelines for the effective child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policies and practices in the European Union, with the special emphasis on the new EU countries and in the light of Declaration and Action Plan endorsed by WHO European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health.

Objectives

To provide a set of recommendations and guidelines for the effective child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policies and practices in the European Union;
To create a network of partners in the European Union for the adopting and implementing of modern effective public health approaches in the new and applicant EU countries;
To develop guidelines and recommendations for the country national and municipal (regional) policies in participating countries in the field of CAMH based on the evidence obtained through the independent analysis of country investigations, including the analysis of context, resources, processes and outcomes;
To initiate and support activities in new and applicant member states in the field of CAMH, with special focus on implementation of effective and evidence-based policies and practices based on involvement and participation of children, families and communities;
To share experience and knowledge;
To advise the European Union and Member States on mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention among children and adolescents, with special focus on management of changes needed in new Member States to move from inherited patterns of institutionalisation and medicalisation to modern public health approaches based on involvement of children, youth; parents and communities.

Activities and outcomes

1) Identification of obstacles and opportunities for implementation of modern policies and practices in the field of CAMH.

2) Development of recommendations for effective policies and practices for the CAMH systems by using a scientifically-based "diagnosis" of the CAMH systems in participating countries.

3) Analysis of prevention of destructive and self-destructive patterns of behaviour in school settings.

4) Analysis of development of modern approaches in parent training, with special emphasis on parents who have mental disorders or represent other risk groups.

5) Analysis of development of effective community based activities in the field of CAMH, as alternatives to the tradition of institutionalisation and social exclusion, and to provide tools for economic evaluation of this process.

Lead organisation

State Mental Health Centre , Lithuania

Partners

35 associate partners from Austria, Belgium (including Mental Health Europe), Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and United Kingdom