Status Report: EAPM Special Interest Group – Children
Chairs: Professor Charlotte Ulrikka Rask, Denmark; Professor Isobel Heyman, UK
The primary goal of the EAPM Special Interest Group (SIG) in Children and Adolescents has been to foster greater engagement in pediatric topics within the EAPM, emphasizing collaboration across multiple disciplines—pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. The SIG aims to expand focus on psychosomatics and pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry, drawing increased attention within EAPM but also from external organizations and associations, as well as at international pediatric forums.
Progress and Initiatives
Increased Symposium Participation: Over recent years, the number of child-focused symposia at EAPM has risen. However, there remains substantial potential to enhance pediatric visibility to attract professionals focused on pediatric care to actively engage in EAPM.
Proposed Joint Initiatives: Discussions within the SIG have highlighted potential collaborative initiatives, such as joint research proposals, shared symposia at conferences, and the exchange of educational resources and treatment manuals. There is also interest in joint presentations with adult clinicians and researchers to incorporate a developmental perspective.
Concrete Actions
Leadership and Training: In 2024, chair Charlotte Ulrikka Rask became a co-opted board member of EAPM and joined the EAPM Academy to contribute to the development of a structured training program within the context of EAPM.
Communication and Collaboration: A dedicated mailing list for the EAPM SIG – Children has been created to facilitate idea exchange, with a focus on strengthening pediatric and adolescent representation within EAPM. Additionally, participants from the last SIG meeting were invited to join the UK Paediatric Liaison Google group for further collaboration.
The SIG continues to explore avenues to enhance pediatric interest within EAPM and reinforce interdisciplinary collaboration, aiming to build a stronger foundation for pediatric psychosomatics, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and integrated care within the organization.
