A three-day 16th Biennial National conference on the theme ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Changing times; Opportunities and Challenges’ is being organized by CIP, Ranchi in collaboration with Indian Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. This is the first Biennial conference to be held on Hybrid mode with both online and offline participation by delegates.
The Program initiated with Continuous Medical Education (CME). The sessions were carried out by Dr. Soumya Basu, Associate professor Psychiatrist, Department of psychological medicine at Monash University, Melbourne Australia, Dr. Soumitra Shankar Dutta, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Tata Medical Centre Kolkata, Dr Satya Raj, Consultant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, CMC, Vellore, Dr. Naresh Nebhinani Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS Jodhpur and Dr varun s Mehta, Associate professor, CIP, Ranchi. Speakers touched up on the link between neuro developmental disorders and personality disorders, psychosis in children and adolescents, mental health in infants, effect of ongoing pandemic in children and parents and increase in suicide rates in India.
The three-day conference was officially inaugurated by lighting off lamp by chief guest, Prof. Vinod Sinha, CIP, Guest of honor Prof (Dr) D. Ram, Former Director, CIP, Dr Kishore Vishwanath Gujar, president, IACAM, Organizing Chairperson Prof. (Dr) Basudev Das, Director CIP and Organizing Secretary, Dr. Nishant Goyal, CIP .It was followed by a melodious Saraswathi Vandana by students of CIP.
Welcome speech was delivered by Prof. (Dr) Basudev Das. In his welcome address he stressed on the importance addressing the mental health of child and adolescents especially during the pandemic as well as the far-reaching consequences.
He also touched up on smartphone addiction. Followed by the welcome address Dr Chhitij Srivastava, Secretary General gave a brief introduction about IACAM to the delegates.
Dr. Devashish Konar, Vice President of IACAM, gave his insights on Child and Adolescent mental health issues during the pandemic. Prof (Dr) D. Ram, addressed the delegates on the changing scenarios in the mental health sector over the last five decades. Chief Guest, Prof. Vinod Sinha also shared his thoughts and experiences of working on the mental health of children in rural areas especially on loss of educational opportunities due to lack of online facilities in such areas.
The E-Souvenir of the conference was also released by Prof. Vinod Sinha. It was followed by felicitation of the dignitaries.
The National Conference officially commenced after the presidential address delivered by Dr. Kishore Vishwanath Gujar, President IACAM. Dr. Nishant Goyal, organizing secretary expressed the gratitude to delegates and guests.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Nishant Goyal, organizing secretary to all the resource persons, chief guest, guests of honor who came from different nooks and niches of the nation for kind cooperation, participation and making the conference successful.
The sessions of the day were attended by 300 participants combined both online and offline modes. This national conference will further be continued for another day.
