ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of the mental health professional in supporting children and young people with mental health problems. After a summary of how mental health problems affect children and young people, a brief description of what services are available to help them, issues of consent, competence and capacity and confidentiality are discussed. Working with children and young people who have mental health problems generates a range of ethical and moral concerns associated with decision making and the journey a dependent child makes to become an independent young adult. Issues such as age of the child or young person, their developmental understanding of the issues involved and the views of their parents or carers must always be taken into consideration. This is not always a straightforward process and mental health professionals often require guidance to make competent care and treatment decisions. Although the chapter is based around a consideration of UK mental health care, it is assumed that the principles have a much wider international relevance.
