The newly established AU Network of Public Mental Child Health was initiated with a kick off workshop Friday December 12, 2014. The idea of the network is to inspire interdisciplinary collaboration through meetings and workshops and consequently achieve larger funds for research. Scientists from different research disciplines such as education, economics, psychology, computer science, genetics, epidemiology, biostatistics and general medicine were gathered to discuss different approaches to the study of children’s mental health.

The need for interdisciplinary research in children’s mental health was confirmed by a well-attended workshop with exciting discussions where the different approaches, research questions and methodology were discussed. Carsten Obel states:

“I think the discussions at the workshop stressed the many possibilities for collaboration and that the different research disciplines can indeed support each other. The combination of different approaches and methods can definitely bring us further in the understanding of children’s mental health and provide important knowledge for well-informed and successful interventions.”

The influence of divorce, teacher involvement and day care on children’s mental health
Over the last 20 years there has been a significant increase in the amount of children and young people with psychiatric symptoms and disorders. The complex reasons for this development were discussed at the workshop. The presentations focused on the different causes such as changes in reporting practises and the diagnosis systems, changes in educational practices, the effect of divorce and the influence of teacher’s involvement and day care setting on the children’s well-being.

Developing interventions projects and shared care models
The presentations also involved examples of intervention projects such as the effect of chess on math scores, registration of absence in schools and the use of technology to monitor and support mental health in different ways. Carsten Obel presented skolesundhed.dk as a systematic approach to support children’s mental well-being. He outlined the prospects of using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire SDQ electronically to support a shared care model in Denmark with access to information to children’s mental health for all relevant professionals.

Speak by Gordon Harrold about the importance of family relationships on children’s well-being
Professor Gordon Harrold from Cardiff University School of Medicine held an inspiring last presentation of the day. He spoke about the role of genetics and family environmental influences on children’s emotional and behavioural development. He stressed the great importance of environment and influence of inter-parental conflicts and paternal as well as the maternal relationship for development of the child’s mental well-being. 

For further information about the AU Network of Public Mental Child Health contact Carsten Obel at co@ph.au.dk or mobile phone 29428405

PowerPoint presentations from the workshop

9.00-9.30 Welcome

Søren Kjærgaard, Head of Department of Public Health, AU

Carsten Obel, Presentation of the idea, AU

9.30-10.45 Understanding

Why are more children diagnosed with ADHD and ASD? 
Erik Parner, Professor, Department of Biostatistics, AU

Exploring the concept of attention through attention practices.
Anders Ljungdahl, Post.doc, DPU, AU

Family structure and mental child health
Mette Verner, Professor MSO, Trygfonden’s Centre for Child Research, AU, KORA

Teacher involvement and children’s mental health
Karen Wistoft, Associate Professor, DPU, AU

Family and institutional stress and mental child health
Ole Henrik Hansen, Assistant Professor, DPU, AU 

10.45-11.00 Good Coffee

11.00-12.15 Intervention

Your Move: The Effect of Chess on Math Test Scores
Michael Rosholm, Professor, Director  Trygfonden’s Centre for Child Research, AU, and Camilla Gumede, Executive Director, Trygfonden’s Centre for Child Research, AU

Absence from school project
Mikael Thastum, Professor, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, AU

Can we monitor ADHD behavior objectively and help children with these problems with technology
Tobias Sonne, MSc ICT Product Development, PhD Student, Department of Computer Science, AU

A systematic approach to support of children’s mental well-being
Carsten Obel, Professor, Department of Public Health, AU

12.15-13.15 Lunch

13.15-14.15 Keynote

Family Relationship Influences on Children’s Psychopathology: Revisiting the Developmental Interface between Nature and Nurture
Gordon Harrold, Professor, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine