Introduction
Children and adolescents represent approximately 35% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean. They are often considered a healthy segment of the population; however, their mental health needs are frequently overlooked.
Mental health conditions originate at an early age, with 50% appearing before the age of 14 and 75% before the age of 25. Globally, mental disorders affect approximately one in seven children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years (1). Depression is one of the leading causes of disability, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the Region of the Americas (2). Moreover, there continue to be large gaps between the number of people who need mental health care and those who actually receive it. The treatment gap for severe mental disorders in children and adolescents exceeds 50% (3,4).
In primary care settings, children and adolescents have specific mental health needs that must be addressed. Many show early signs of developmental, social interaction, learning, or behavioral difficulties at ages when these conditions are still treatable and modifiable, and do not yet cause lasting consequences. Failure to detect or to intervene adequately and in a timely manner increases health system costs and reduces the individual’s potential contribution to their community, among other consequences.
Purpose
The general objective of this course is to provide evidence-based tools to identify the most prevalent mental disorders in children and adolescents in the Region of the Americas and to establish timely and appropriate intervention plans in primary healthcare settings. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for the child or adolescent, their family, and their community. The Pan American Health Organization has implemented this course intending to bridge the gap between the growing need for mental health services and the limited supply of specialized services.
Not all children and adolescents with mental health problems require referral to specialized care. Many of these conditions can be identified and managed effectively in primary care, particularly through early detection before they become severe. The course provides clear criteria for determining when referral to mental health specialists is necessary.
Learning obhetives
At the end of the course, participants will have improved their ability to:
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Establish an adequate diagnostic interview and mental status examination of children and adolescents, which includes the perspective of the rights of children, adolescents, and their families, as well as the cultural and gender perspective.
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Determine the presence (or absence) of a prevalent mental disorder in childhood and adolescence.
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Identify the main signs and symptoms of the most prevalent mental disorders in children and adolescents.
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Interpret and apply diagnostic strategies to the most prevalent mental disorders in childhood and adolescence.
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Interpret and execute the most appropriate actions in primary care that allow early intervention of the most prevalent mental disorders in childhood and adolescence.
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Apply appropriate strategies for children and adolescents with mental health disorders in primary care.
Competence
This course provides the opportunity to develop competencies for identifying, assessing, and intervening in a timely manner in the most prevalent mental health disorders among children and adolescents within primary health care, applying evidence-based criteria with a rights-based, gender-sensitive, and culturally appropriate approach, in order to contribute to reducing the gap in access to mental health care in the region.
Target audience
The course is designed for healthcare professionals who do not specialize in child and adolescent mental health. It is particularly beneficial for primary healthcare personnel, as well as individuals in the fields of psychology, nursing, social work, general medicine, health promotion, and mental health service management.
Course duration
13 hours
Course modality
Self-learning course, free of charge, open to the public and without deadlines to complete it. As it is a self-paced course, participants can choose when they are able to progress through the course.
Course structure
The course consists of 10 modules: an introductory module and 9 content modules:
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Module 1: Fundamentals of Mental Health in children and adolescents
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Module 2: Anxiety Disorders in children and adolescents
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Module 3: Trauma and Post-traumatic Stress in children and adolescents
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Module 4: Depression in children and adolescents
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Module 5: Self-harm in children and adolescents
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Module 6: Disorder due to alcohol and substance use in children and adolescents
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Module 7: Disorders of intellectual development
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Module 8: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
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Module 9: Autism spectrum disorders
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Module 10: Suicide in children and adolescents
Educational strategy
The course “Improving the mental health of children and adolescents in primary health care” is online and self-paced, offered through the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) platform.
Participating professionals will have access to a range of tools and didactic materials designed to enhance their learning experience. Each module will include both theory and practice, incorporating interactive videos to facilitate engagement. Through these videos and accompanying activities, participants will develop diagnostic hypotheses. Once confirmed, participants will gain access to additional didactic materials, enabling them to exchange concepts, review relevant elements, and consolidate their learning efficiently in each topic covered. The modules also provide practice-oriented brochures for primary care. Additionally, each module offers supplementary references for those seeking more in-depth knowledge.
Each module has a duration of 75 minutes (excluding the introductory Module 1 – 30 minutes - and Module 7 on Disorders of intellectual development – 120 minutes).
The course can be taken without necessarily following the order of the modules. However, to be eligible for the final assessment and obtain the corresponding certification, it is essential to complete all course modules.
Evaluation and certification
Upon completion of the course, participants will have the opportunity to take a final questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions to assess their knowledge, with a passing grade of 70%.
Participants who meet these requirements and fill out the VCPH Quality Survey will be able to download their course completion certificate, issued by the Pan American Health Organization.