A note of President of the Congress

Children and adolescents are the crucial resources needed for the growth of any society and their wellbeing guarantees the development of the societies. This large group should be thoughtfully nurtured and guided through the vulnerable period of childhood and adolescence so that they confront the least difficulties. As such, the mental health of this age group, a subject neglected more frequently than not, gains significance. Preparing an adequate foundation for improving the mental health of children and adolescents is thus one of the major responsibilities of the health system and all individuals involved with this age group. Being committed to creating theoretical and practical grounds to improve the youth mental health, the Iranian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (IACAP) has held several national and international congresses on this topic in the past ten years. The Fifth International Congress on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, to be held in cooperation with the Department of Psychiatry of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, October 2012, is an academic event during which scholars and health specialists will present the most recent findings related to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of behavioral and psychological problems of this age group. We hope that the collaboration of scholars, researchers and students of relevant disciplines helps us move a step forward towards the improvement of the psychological wellbeing of our nations’ children.