Our association is an organization that conducts national and international activities aimed at improving the quality of services and infrastructure capacity in the fields of child and adolescent mental health, diseases, and rare diseases.

National Activities of the Association
Our association contributes to raising public awareness by conducting various scientific and academic studies in the field of child and adolescent mental health. At the same time, by supporting professional development, it operates with the following goals:
• Education and Professional Development: Ensuring that those working in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry receive education in accordance with international standards before and after their specialization, and improving the quality of specialization education with continuous training programs.
• Organizing Scientific Events: Raising awareness in the field of child and adolescent mental health and providing educational opportunities by organizing events such as conferences, seminars, and symposiums.
• Research and Development: Conducting scientific research on child, adolescent, and family mental health, supporting studies in this field, and creating projects that will promote the development of young professionals.
• Intervention and Rehabilitation: Leading the development of intervention and rehabilitation programs for child and adolescent mental health, and strengthening existing programs.
• Raising Awareness in Society: Increasing awareness of mental health by developing projects targeting risk factors and providing counseling and guidance services to families.
• Partnerships and Capacity Building: Developing projects to increase the capacity of mental health services in cooperation with public institutions, private organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
• Resource and Technology Development: Developing new tools and technologies using domestic resources and creating national databases and clinical guidelines.

International Activities of the Association
Our association is also active internationally, contributing to global strategies and forming various collaborations. In this scope:
• International Partnerships: Collaborating with foreign institutions to develop consultancy and joint projects.
• International Knowledge Sharing: Facilitating knowledge exchange by organizing conferences, seminars, and research projects with international experts.
• Global Policy and Strategy Development: Developing policies related to child and adolescent mental health on international platforms, and contributing to global strategies and action plans.
• Standardization Studies: Conducting studies on the standardization of child and adolescent mental health services and improving service quality through international funds and grants.

Activities in the Field of Rare Diseases
Our association conducts the following activities to raise awareness about the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases and to support developments in this area:
• Raising Public Awareness: Organizing events to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, and educating families and healthcare professionals.
• Research and Development: Conducting scientific research on the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, developing next-generation medical tools and treatment methods using domestic resources.
• Policy Formation: Collaborating with public institutions and professional organizations to contribute to the creation of national plans and policies in the field of rare diseases, and working on the development of legislation.
• Support Services: Providing education, counseling, and social support services to children and adolescents living with rare diseases, their families, and caregivers, and developing projects to improve the quality of life for families.

Through these activities, our association continues its efforts to raise societal awareness and improve the quality of services in the fields of child and adolescent mental health and rare diseases.

 

The Founding Process of the CAPACITY Association

During the "New Horizons in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" Symposium held in 2024, it was proposed to establish a commission to conduct studies in the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry and rare diseases. In this regard, a commission was formed with the participation of faculty members and assistants. The commission held numerous meetings to discuss the studies to be conducted in the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry and rare diseases.

Additionally, during the symposium, the idea of establishing an association to develop sustainable policies in these areas was also suggested. Following the commission’s decision, the process of drafting the bylaws for the planned association was initiated. Various meetings were planned to exchange ideas, evaluate suggestions, and gather contributions during this process.

In February 2025, during a meeting held at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences University, Trabzon, detailed discussions were held on the draft bylaws of the association. Representatives from many institutions attended the meeting, and consensus was reached regarding the association's main objectives and duties.

After nearly a year of preparation, the CAPACITY Association was officially established on February 18, 2025, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Onur Burak Dursun and with the support of experts in the field.

To structure the association with a broader participation, a meeting was planned to be held on April 11, 2025, in Trabzon, with the participation of representatives from public institutions and relevant associations.

The CAPACITY Association aims to support the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families by conducting educational and research activities in the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry and rare diseases, as well as to develop innovative projects in this area.

We invite all professionals who wish to contribute to children and adolescents to join the CAPACITY Association!