Welcome to the First International Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference (Child PSYCON 2025) 28–29 November 2025 | Lahore, Pakistan
Organized by the Department of Child & Family Psychiatry & Academic Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences King Edward Medical University and Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre / Fountain House Lahore.

Co-sponsored by World Psychiatric Association & WPA Section on Psychiatry in Developing Countries 

Supported by the Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations, SAARC Psychiatric Federation, Psychiatry Wellness Programme, Pakistan Psychiatric Society, British Pakistani Psychiatric Association (BPPA), Pakistan Association of Clinical Psychologists(PACP), Pakistan Psychological Association(PPA), Medical Women Association Pakistan (MWAP), Pakistan Pediatric Association Pakistan (Punjab), Pakistan Association of Cognitive Therapy (PACT), Young Psychologists Association (YPA) and Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP).


We are delighted to announce the First International Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference (Child PSYCON 2025), a landmark event scheduled for 28–29 November 2025, jointly hosted at King Edward Medical University (Day 1) and PPRC/Fountain House Lahore (Day 2).

This pioneering conference is set to be a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, professional networking, and advancing clinical and academic collaboration in the field of child and adolescent mental health. With a focus on local and global perspectives, the event aims to address the pressing challenges, innovative practices, and emerging trends in the care of children and adolescents with psychiatric needs.

Child PSYCON 2025 will bring together leading professionals, researchers, educators, and advocates from across Pakistan and around the world. The scientific program will feature keynote lectures by international experts, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and thematic sessions exploring diverse aspects of mental health across developmental stages.

We warmly invite psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, educators, trainees, and all those invested in child and adolescent well-being to join us for this historic gathering in Lahore.

Let’s shape the future of child mental health—together.

Patron

Prof Mahmood Ayaz

Vice-chancellor
King Edward Medical University

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to King Edward Medical University, Lahore, and to the historic city of Lahore, for the First International Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference, being held on 28–29 November 2025. This landmark event represents an important milestone in our shared commitment to addressing the urgent and growing challenges in child and adolescent mental health. Issues such as neurodevelopmental disorders, emotional and behavioral difficulties, school mental health, and the impact of trauma on young lives demand our collective attention.
By bringing together distinguished national and international experts, policymakers,academicians, clinicians, and allied professionals, we aim to foster dialogue,collaboration, and innovation that will strengthen both our knowledge and our capacityto support the mental well-being of children and adolescents.
We look forward to welcoming you to King Edward Medical University and to the vibrant,culturally rich city of Lahore, as we join hands to advance the science and practice of child and adolescent psychiatry for a healthier future.

Messages

Dr. Afzal Javed

Chairman Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre
Fountain House Lahore Pakistan

I am pleased to send his message of welcome & greetings to the participants of 1st International Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference (CHILD PSYCHON 2025) being held in Lahore, Pakistan from 28th to 29th November 2025.
This conference is jointly organised by Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre, Fountain house, Lahore and King Edward Medical University, Lahore. Keeping in view the significance of academic and clinical importance of this meeting, we are pleased that this conference is co-sponsored by World Psychiatric Association, WPA section on Psychiatry in Developing Countries, Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations and SAARC Psychiatric Federation.
This, first of its kind event, is bringing national & international mental health professionals together who are dealing with mental health issues among children & adolescents for informed discussions about various aspects of child & adolescent’s care. We are expecting several national & international experts who will present lectures on updated information & evidence-based practices and training workshops for the trainees.
Child & Adolescent mental health services are in infancy in our country. We are struggling to follow a formal referral pathway to psychiatric services for children with mental and behavioural problems who invariably present to different practitioners in the community including spiritual and faith healers. Although the number of general adult psychiatrists is increasing but we are still facing difficulties for adding formal training programmes & specialised degree courses for the trainees in many teaching institutions.
Children facing mental health issues have an adverse effect on the families and on country’s productivity, economic stability and viability. Availability of effective models of utilisation of scarce child mental health resources within the current health and educational setup require urgent attention. This conference will urge policymakers in the face of lack of finances and resources need to make decisions based on the efficacy of proposed and evaluated interventions which are not only beneficial to the population but also cost-effective.
We hope to bring recent updates on Child & Adolescent psychiatry in different areas of science, academic and clinical practices. We cordially invite you as your support and participation is crucial for the success of this conference.

Prof Nazish Imran

Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
King Edward Medical University

It is with great pleasure and heartfelt warmth that I welcome you to the First International Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference (Child PSYCON 2025). This conference marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to prioritize the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents in Pakistan and the region.Child and adolescent mental health remain a deeply under-recognized, yet critical area in our healthcare system. With rising psychosocial challenges, trauma, and developmental concerns among the youth, there is an urgent need to build capacity, enhance awareness, and promote evidence-based care tailored to our cultural and systemic realities.With over 60% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 25, we are a remarkably young nation. This demographic reality presents both an opportunity and a responsibility—ensuring the mental health of our children and adolescents is not only a moral imperative but also vital for our country’s future. By investing in their mental well-being today, we lay the foundation for a healthier, more resilient society tomorrow.We are honored to bring together leading minds from Pakistan and across the globe to share knowledge, inspire collaboration, and strengthen our commitment to young people’s mental health. I look forward to your active participation and meaningful engagement as we work together to shape a better future for the next generation.

Prof Ali Madeeh Hashmi

Chairman & Professor
Academic Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences
King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital Lahore

It is with great pleasure that we welcome all of you to Pakistan's first Child PsyCon at King Edward Medical University & PPRC in beautiful, historic Lahore, the heart of Punjab. Child and Adolescent mental health is a topic on everyone's mind these days and given Pakistan's population demographics, it is specially relevant to us. We have one of the youngest populations in the world with almost 40% of people in our country below the age of 15 and this number is still growing. While a young population is one of our greatest resources, we also must be mindful of the need to nurture and care for these millions of young people who will take Pakistan forward into the 21st century. Taking care of their nutrition, education and training and helping them transition into responsible and mature adult citizens of Pakistan is our foremost responsibility and none of this is possible without taking care of their mental health needs, the fundamental building blocks of every human being.
Here at Pakistan's oldest and most prestigious medical institution, we are proud to be home to Pakistan's first and oldest Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as well as Pakistan's first accredited Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program under the able and inspiring leadership of Professor Dr. Nazish Imran. We hope that this first ever Child PsyCon will be an opportunity for mental health experts and students alike from all over Pakistan and all over the world to exchange ideas, learn from each other and help us in our mission to nurture and protect the mental health and well being of our most precious resource: our young people
Welcome to King Edward Medical University, Lahore!

Professor Dr. Muhammad Waqar Azeem

Chairman , Scientific Committee CHILD PSYCON
Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Sidra Medicine , Qatar
Professor of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, USA

First Child Psychiatry Conference in Pakistan is Historical! This groundbreaking event marks a significant milestone in prioritizing the mental health and well-being of our nation's children. By bringing together experts, clinicians, and stakeholders, we can foster a collaborative approach to addressing the unique challenges faced by Pakistani youth and families. The conference provides a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, innovation, and networking, ultimately contributing to improved mental health outcomes for our young population. Wishing the conference a resounding success and looking forward to its lasting impact!