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Child and Adolescent Mental Health denotes the type of care and support provided to children and adolescents with various mental health difficulties, from those present at birth such as autism to those acquired through emotional or physical trauma. Unfortunately, worldwide, children and youth with serious problems of this nature are often relegated to poor-quality institutional care, often in the same facilities as adults, and are marginalized from education and social interactions.   The health care, education and social welfare systems as well as legal systems in many places lack policies and practices to deal with these young people.

Wherever possible, institutional care should be substituted by care in family contexts. Similarly, effective ways of addressing trends such as bullying, substance abuse and juvenile delinquency found among a wider group of children and youth are lacking in many countries. Especially important to the process of change in this field is the involvement of children and youth and their relatives in designing improved care and support programs.