An impetus to move the field forward: a look at child and adolescent mental health services participants' views of the prospects for change

Abstract

In September 2009 key stakeholders convened for the invitation-only Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): Issues and Solutions conference. This paper provides a brief synopsis of the key high points and issues in children's mental health (CMH) and describes the process by which participants collectively brainstormed the priorities and distilled the four key foci for the new action agenda, and summarizes the key outcomes. In addition, this paper offers participants' perspectives on the conference. Based on observation notes and post-conference qualitative interviews, this paper reports conference participants' feedback on the event, their views on the prospects for change generated by the conference and suggestions for follow-up.