China mental health delegation visits the Yale Child Study Center

On October 10 and 11, 2024, the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) hosted a visit to the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) campus from the China Consortium of Leading Hospitals in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The delegation included sixteen child and adolescent psychiatrists from the People's Republic of China, hailing from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Shenzhen.

The visit was tailored to participants' clinical, research, and training interests, and grew out of a pressing concern in Chinese society around the mental health of children and adolescents. With a growing demand for mental health services in China, the country’s leading medical experts have identified a need for a mental health service system that is both easily accessible and of high quality for children and adolescents.

In response to these challenges and needs, the consortium was established in September 2023. Supported by the China Medical Board (CMB), the consortium is spearheaded by Peking University Sixth Hospital in collaboration with six other leading mental health institutions in China.

As part of this work, a week-long tour to visit and study two leading medical schools and hospitals in the United States was organized, with the goal of gaining insights into the design and operation of child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship programs and learning about best practice in child and adolescent mental health services. Opportunities for long-term collaboration and exchange with colleagues were also a goal of the visits.

CMB Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Lichten and Senior Consultant on Mental Health Programs Myron Belfer joined the tour, along with representatives from the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing Anding Hospital, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Second Xiangya Hospital, Nanjing Brain Hospital, and Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital.

On the first day at Yale, the delegation visited the Children's Psychiatric Inpatient Service (CPIS), Sterling Hall of Medicine, and Cushing Medical Library, before meeting for lunch with YSM Dean Nancy Brown, YCSC Chair Linda Mayes, and other members of leadership at the school and center. On the second day, the delegation visited YCSC outpatient services, as well as the Children's Day Hospital, and Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services. The visit concluded with an exchange with faculty members and trainees of the YCSC Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program.

Participant and CPIS Director Andrés Martin commented, “Special thanks to first-year fellow Dr. Richard Zhang for helping with flawless Mandarin translation. We look forward to future visits and partnerships from our colleagues. Xie xie!”