Mental health planning for children and youth: is it developmentally appropriate?

Objectives: We aim to provide an overview of current issues facing child and adolescent mental health services and the provision of developmentally informed and appropriate care. Method: We review developmental models of mental disorder and the impact on service design. Results: Developmental issues can shape service design. Conclusions: Mental health services need to be informed and responsive to changing developmental needs and of the context of child development in terms of family and attachment relationships. Children and adolescents have specific needs in terms of service design.