Transforming Child Mental Health

Most mental health problems have their origins in childhood and adolescence. 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.

When difficulties start early, they can have serious long-term consequences, and we know that there is a massive unmet need for help, which poses a particularly acute public health problem in a time of diminishing resources. The good news is that at the same time our knowledge of risk and protective factors in early experience, how these factors impact the developing brain and how we can best protect, treat and support our young people has increased exponentially, as has public awareness of the issue of mental health in general, and children’s mental health in particular.

In order to bring about sustainable change for children and families, we need to work in partnership with them and build on this knowledge and raised awareness to develop innovative approaches to supporting them.

This book sets out the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF)’s vision of the paradigm shift required to create a supportive social ecology – encompassing communities, families and services – around children and young people, enabling them to thrive and develop into adults who are well equipped to nurture the next generation. We illustrate this with descriptions of some of the Centre’s practices, drawing out the transferable principles that underpin our vision of a society where children and families are supported to build on their strengths to achieve their goals in life.