Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access

Overview of the developments in child and adolescent psychiatry and pediatric integrated care in Lithuania

Joint Event on 16^th Annual World Congress on Pediatrics & 3^rd Annual World Congress on Pediatric Nutrition, Gastroenterology & Child Development

March 21-22, 2018 | New York, USA

Sigita Lesinskiene

Lithuanian Ministry of Health, Lithuania

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Pediatr Ther

Abstract :

Introduction: Stemming from pediatrics the specialty of child and adolescent psychiatry keeps strong cooperation with pediatric services in the country. These both fields of child/adolescent psychiatry and pediatrics are actively growing and strengthening, keeping traditions and constantly changing them according the time. Objective: of the presentation is to analyze pathways of the development of child mental health services and the process of building pediatric integrated care in Lithuania. Method: An historical overview from the beginning of the specialities to later stages, through various socioeconomical periods, will be presented highlighting strengths, weaknesses and challenges for further development. Ways on how to achieve the best balance between public health interventions and individual integrated medical care will also be discussed. System of service delivery, funding and training of specialists in Lithuania will be presented. Results: Pathways of mutual cooperation of pediatrics and child/adolescent psychiatry were built as a network throughout the country for both outpatient and inpatient services. Good examples of these developments will be presented. Child and adolescent psychiatry, one of the most socially and multidisciplinary-oriented medical specialties, has been stressing intersectorial collaboration for many years. In recent years awareness of the urgent need for integrated services, to solve complex problems related to the somatic and mental health of children and adolescent, has been recognized and programs have begun to be implemented in society. Good practices, successful examples, and innovative programs along with the need to build comprehensive, continuous services will be discussed as a means to achieve a better quality of care. Conclusions: In the countries where financial resorses are quite limited it is very important to cooperate with politicians and decide priorities for funding when talking about the improvement of child and youth somatic and mental health. Cooperation with sectors of education and social affair is constantly growing and very important. Intersectorial collaboration is essential for building a healthy society. Intersectorial action remains a complex and challenging area of policy development and practice. sigita.lesinskiene@mf.vu.lt