1st Annual Conference on Child Behavioral Health in sub-Suharan Africa – July 12-15, 2016
The 1st Annual Conference on Child Behavioral Health in Sub Saharan Africa has opened in Kampala to discuss issues of child mental health.
It is estimated that one in five children and adolescents suffer from mental disorders. In addition, millions of African youth face daily challenges, including grief due to loss of parents to AIDS, extreme poverty, conflict, displacement, illness, or physical and sexual victimization, all of which can contribute to poor behavioral health.
The first lady, Janet Museveni talks to Dr. Fred Ssewamala, director Columbia University International Center for Child Health and Asset Development as Dr. Mary McKay looks on. This was at the First Annual Conference on Child Behavioral Health in Sub Saharan Africa on July 12, 2016. Left is Abel Mwebembezi, executive director Reach the Youth Uganda.
It is stated that in many African countries, the development and scale-up of evidence-based behavioral health services for children and youth need greater attention.
Policy makers, practitioners, researchers, and community members have come together in this conference to collaboratively begin develop and ultimately test theoretically informed, culturally appropriate, evidence-based and youth and family-focused service models.