The Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (IACAM) conceived in 1988 and born in 1990 is the realization of long cherished dream of those mental health professionals who have shown greater commitment to the mental health problems of children and adolescents over long years. The idea of floating an association of child mental health professionals originated in 1988 on the occasion of National Workshop on Child Mental Health: Needs and Priorities organized by Dr. Savita Malhotra, Department of Psychiatry at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh on Nov.25-26,1988. The idea was mooted among the prominent psychiatrists which received an overwhelmingly positive response. Considerable amount of support was mobilized and it was finally possible to prepare a memorandum introduced formally at first National Conference of Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Pune on Nov. 3-4, 1990. There was considerable interest, enthusiasm and will in the participants and a unanimous decision was taken to form an independent and exclusive association of child and adolescent mental health.

An adhoc executive committee was constituted with Late Dr. Roshen Master as President, Dr. L.P. Shah as Vice President, Dr. Prabhat Sitholey as Treasurer and Dr. Savita Malhotra as Secretary-General and was entrusted with the responsibility of formulating a constitution and registering the Association. The Association was registered as the Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (IACAM) on 22.11.91 at Chandigarh. The foundation meeting of the Association was held on 23.1.1992 in New Delhi, where the Constitution was adopted. This historic meeting was represented by 30 highly accomplished professionals from all over India, who signed the Associations memorandum and were designated as the Founding Fellows. The membership to the Association was opened at this meeting to the professionals working in the area of mental health and allied specialties. The affiliation of Indian Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health with the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) in July 1994 was a major achievement and milestone. Another feather in the cap of IACAM was the advent of E journal started in the year 2005 which provided a platform to inseminate information among scientists.

1. To promote the study, treatment, care and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and deficiencies of infants, children, adolescents and their families
2. To promote national and international collaboration among professionals in the fields related to child and adolescent mental health
3. To focus on the practice and research in child and adolescent mental health and to make the knowledge available to the professionals and public through various scientific activities
4. To promote positive mental health in children and adolescents with concern for laying a foundation for better adulthood and future society
5. To take up charitable work and all such matters that are incidental and conducive to the attainment of above objectives

• To organize biennial conferences at national level
• To organize Continuing Medical Education programmes at national and regional levels
• To organise seminars, workshops, symposia, short courses etc. at national and regional levels
• To exchange information and promote research communication
• To engage in public education through mass communication

For Rules and Regulation Please click on link : Rules and Regulations