BHIDAPA-EAPTI (European Accredited Psychotherapy Training Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy) organized the 3rd International and Interdisciplinary Congress on Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, titled “Reflection of Communication and Relationships on the Health of Children, Youth, and Families: Therapeutic Approaches.” This significant event was held in partnership with UNICEF as the main partner of the Congress, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO), and in cooperation with many domestic and international institutions and organizations.
The Congress brought together more than 40 leading experts from various fields, including psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychology, medical sciences, law, education, and social work. Among the participants were representatives of institutions, institutes, NGOs, and youth organizations from 23 countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, the Netherlands, China, England, Spain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, and others.
Participants had the opportunity to attend over 30 plenary lectures, 11 round tables, 7 symposia, and 39 oral presentations, practical workshops, and poster presentations. This rich program allowed for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices, focusing on improving the mental health of children, youth, and their families.
Over four thematic days, discussions covered the connection between aggression and empathy, forms of abuse and neglect and their impact on individuals and society, transgenerational and intergenerational trauma, and the development of children, families, and society. Topics also included resilience and mentalization, migration, educational, health, social, and legal approaches, therapeutic methods focused on the growth and development of children, youth, and families, the ethics of psychotherapy, therapeutic approaches in communication and relationships, as well as examples of good practices, research, and innovative interventions. You can read about the works in the BHIDAPA publication at the link: https://congress.bhidapa.ba/bs/publikacije/.
The Congress was organized at the right time, given the necessity of discussing and promoting the mental health of children and youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and the world. It was also a place and time for professional and personal connections, empowerment, and the exchange of experiences and knowledge. We acted in alignment with the World Health Organization’s action plan for 2030, UNICEF’s strategy for 2025, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Congress brochure can be found at this link: https://congress.bhidapa.ba/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Brosura_THINK-ABOUT-YOUth.pdf.
We find it important to talk and raise awareness about the collaboration of experts, activism, the development of innovative and integrative therapeutic approaches, and relying on global promotional and preventive guidelines, which all enable the creation of common, comprehensive strategies to support children, youth, and the profession.
The 12 key conclusions of the congress emphasize the importance of integrating various sectors and experts, as well as empowering youth in decision-making processes that affect their health and well-being. The themes included interdisciplinary approaches, a proactive stance on intersectoral collaboration, youth inclusion, developing standardized and harmonized global strategies, continuous education of experts, fostering international cooperation, awareness of nonviolence, mental health in caregiving professions, legal protection, and partnership cooperation with the broader and local community.
All of this is because the health of children and youth is our shared responsibility, and we are committed to creating sustainable changes for a more caring, aware, educated, and safer community, where we work together with others as empowered activists. Our intention is to explore and discuss how these aspects reflect through educational, social, health, and legal frameworks, with the goal of identifying comprehensive strategies and solutions that can improve the quality of life for children, youth, and families.
We are particularly proud of the International Youth Committee from World Vision BiH and BHIDAPA, with whom we presented and signed the Sarajevo Declaration on the Mental Health of Children and Youth, EIATSCYP. We will explore ways to implement it, focusing on improving the health of children and youth through intersectoral cooperation, strengthening mental health, and supporting families, with continuous monitoring of results.
For more information on the Congress Conclusions and the Sarajevo Declaration, visit the link: https://congress.bhidapa.ba/bs/.
