Welcome
Message from the President
It is a great honour for me to have been elected President of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) for the period from 2010 to 2014. I come from one of the most deprived regions of the world in terms of resources for child and adolescent mental health (CAMH), so I have accepted this invitation to serve in leadership with a sense of urgency, passion and great responsibility. I see a tremendous opportunity for change to emerge in the field of CAMH both in the better-resourced and resource-poor regions through partnerships, friendships and reciprocal learning.
In line with IACAPAP’s vision of ‘a world in which all children grow up healthy, emotionally as well as physically, and realize their potential to contribute to their society’, committed CAMH professions from every continent except Antarctica were elected into her Executive Committee. The members of the IACAPAP Bureau are from the four continents: Daniel Fung, the Secretary-General, is from Asia; Gordon Harper, the Treasurer, is from North America; Per-Anders Rydelius, the Past President, is from Europe; and I am from Africa. Asia and Africa are home to three-quarters of the world’s children and adolescents who are in dire need of mental health care.
IACAPAP was started in 1935 when a group of European child psychiatrists came together. The first Congress was held in 1937 in Paris and as a sequel of the sacrifice and commitment of several CAMH professionals, the association has expanded to a membership from over 60 countries in the world.
On behalf of every member, I welcome you to our website. IACAPAP’s mission is to advocate the promotion of mental health and development of children and adolescents through policy, practice and research. IACAPAP also promotes the study, treatment, care and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and disabilities of children, adolescents and their families through collaboration among the professions of child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, social work, paediatrics, public health, nursing, education, social sciences and other relevant disciplines.
In order to fulfil her mission IACAPAP is actively working to increase the participation of national and regional child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) & CAMH organizations and of individuals in countries where there are no organizations. Facilitating the establishment of national, regional and sub-regional organizations of CAP and CAMH professionals with a particular focus on the resource-poor regions of the world is another key strategic plan.
We wish you a very enjoyable and instructive experience viewing our programs & campaigns, declarations & statements, bulletins, publications and other items as you navigate the world of child and adolescent psychiatry and child and adolescent mental health through our website.
Olayinka Omigbodun
