The First National Conference on Community Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents was held on November 30 and December 1 at the Didactic Center of the Medical University of Warsaw. It was organized by the MUW’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in consultation with the newly established Society of Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychotherapy and Community Therapy of Children and Adolescents and national consultants in the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry, child and adolescent psychotherapy and clinical psychology. The conference was held under the patronage of the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, the Ombudsman for Children and the President of the Supreme Medical Chamber.
Several years have passed since the beginning of the reform of the psychiatric treatment system for children and adolescents, the establishment of centers for community psychological and psychotherapeutic care, and the emergence of a new medical profession – community therapist for children and adolescents. Hence the conference’s motto: “We are together”, where “we” means all professionals, but also parents, teachers, politicians and social activists united in caring for the mental health of children and adolescents.
Over 300 people attended the conference, participated in 12 workshops, listened to lectures and took part in panel discussions. It was a great honor for the participants that the Minister of Health, the Rector of MUV and the President of the Supreme Medical Chamber opened the conference and spoke.
The Medical University of Warsaw is a medical school where child psychiatry has been taught for over 60 years, and the importance that the authorities of our university and the academic community attach to the mental health of the youngest is evidenced by the plan to establish the Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the MUW.
