The importance of “child and family-centered care” has been raised as a key issue in the medical treatment and care of children. Accordingly, there is an ever-increasing need to provide psychosocial support for patients and their families, including mental health care and collaboration with the patients’ local community. In addition to cases where the patient is a child or AYA, comprehensive support that takes the entire family into consideration may be necessary when the patient’s family has other children or AYA family members, especially in light of problems such as young caregivers. To make this support possible, physicians, psychologists, and social workers in the Department of Child Psychiatry play a central role, working in collaboration with medical staff of various specialists in affiliated departments such as Neuropsychiatry, Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Surgery, Rehabilitation Center, Department of Clinical Genomics, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

We approach the emotional needs of the patients and families who consult with us in a receptive manner, working together to reassure them and sort through their concerns. If regular consultations within an established framework are required, counseling by a psychologist will be provided at the Children, AYA and Family Centered Mental Care Specialized Outpatient Clinic. If necessary, the Center will also collaborate with related departments inside and outside the hospital. The Center strives to enhance patient care through active communication between each department involved with patients and their families.