ABU DHABI, 30th November, 2020 (WAM) — Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, the first and only specializing in pediatrics and adolescents in the UAE, has announced that it will host the 25th session of the General Conference of the International Society of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, from 6 to 9 December, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the first Arab city to host this prestigious international conference.
The largest event of its kind in the world is held for the first time in the region under the slogan ‘Child and adolescent mental health: Shaping the future’, attracting scientific delegations from 85 countries around the world as well as scientists and doctors from elites from around the world to discuss the latest research in the field and explore current mental health challenges among children and adolescents, as well as shed light on advanced innovations aimed at improving levels of mental health. Hosting the conference in Dubai represents a new milestone that reinforces its leadership in efforts to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in the region and support its plans to become a leading center in the health tourism sector.
Since its establishment in 2016, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital continues to collaborate with various organizations from around the world to achieve tangible changes in the field of children’s mental health.
Held every two years, the conference sheds light on a variety of topics and reviews the latest discoveries and developments in this area. Life through a series of strategic goals and initiatives.
The conference will host a series of discussions led by a panel of leading international experts, including Professor Antonio Hardin, chair of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry, Stanford University; Prof. Bennett Leventhal, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry (emeritus), University of Chicago; and Bruno Valisard, former president of the General Conference of the International Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and head of the Public Health and Mental Health Research Laboratory at Paris-Sud University, among others.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Khayyat, Executive Director of Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, said: “The International Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has won prestigious awards from around the world for its invaluable efforts in addressing the many problems of mental health affecting the younger generation. Regionally, Al Jalila Hospital plays an important role in that children play a leading role in improving children’s mental health and we will work to unite the efforts of both parties by hosting this global conference to gain a leap of quality in the regional health care sector”.
The 5-day conference program includes 15 keynote speeches, more than 250 hours of seminars and oral lectures, and 12 workshops, with the participation of over 300 experts from around the world to address a wide range of topics including anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, policies and advocacy, prevention and improvement of mental health quality, and emerging technologies aimed at improving access to mental health care services for children and adolescents, among others.
The program also covers a cluster of pressing issues, such as parental concerns about communication methods between parents and children and the effects of COVID-19 on mental health. The sessions are expected to be attended by delegations from 85 countries.
For his part, Dr. Ammar Al-Banna, President of the Emirates Society for Child Mental Health and Head of the Center of Excellence for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at Al Jalila Specialty Children’s Hospital, referred to the role of the conference in highlighting the commitment of Dubai and the UAE for community mental health, particularly among children.
He said, “Holding the conference in Dubai for the first time confirms the seriousness of efforts to raise the level of mental health for children in the UAE and the extent of the success it has achieved. We are proud of Al Jalila Children’s Hospital of its position as one of the leading pediatric specialist hospitals in the region, and our leading role in attracting the elite One of the leading industry experts from around the world to Dubai, the city of the future, to discuss the future of mental health in light of the prevalence of mental health problems, particularly among children, who constitute the most vulnerable group, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Fung, president of the International Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, highlighted the role of the conference in activating communication between members of associations under the umbrella of the International Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and other specialized experts from around the world.
He said: “The 25th session of the conference coincides with the 85th anniversary of our founding in 1937. We are delighted that the event will come to Dubai, to meet in this forum in the hope that we come up with valuable ideas and results that will achieve the transformation desired positive outcome in the field of mental health for children and youth”.
