Children's and adolescents' participation in mentalhealthcare

The participation and involvement of children in decisions that concern them is a fundamental right that is enshrined in several pieces of legislation. In addition to being an end in itself, it is also an excellent way of improving the accessibility, quality and efficiency of care by making it more responsive to needs.

However, children's participation in mental healthcare is currently virtually non-existent in Belgium. Mental health problems account for a large share of the morbidity in children and adolescents, yet there is no organised group that represents their voice in this area, nor is there any framework broad enough to set up a participatory process.

In this advisory report, the SHC looks at the prerequisites for guaranteeing the right of children and young people to participation in mental healthcare in terms of individual support, service organisation and government policy.

This advisory report is only available in Dutch and French.