Constitution - Paediatric Mental Health Association (PMHA)

1. Name:

Paediatric Mental Health Association (PMHA).

2. Objects:

We are a multidisciplinary group of professionals including Paediatricians, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Nurses, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, who are concerned about promoting mental wellbeing alongside physical health of babies, children and young people into adulthood.
We seek “parity of esteem“– which is the principle by which mental health must be given equal priority to physical health.
Our mission is to champion the integration and working together of services, by influencing clinical practice in Paediatrics, Policy Development, Education and Training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Our key functions are:

a) Advocacy:

Raise the profile of Child Mental Health to parity with physical health
Identify topics for advocacy, working with partners such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of General Practitioners and British Psychological Society to develop clear guidance.

b) Knowledge:

Paediatricians frequently work with children and young people with a wide range of mental health difficulties. This includes children with complex presentations, functional symptoms, behaviours that challenge, neurodevelopmental conditions, eating disorders, learning difficulties and intellectual disability.
Many of us work within multidisciplinary and multiagency teams, liaising with other mental health specialists, paediatric subspecialists and local multi-agency teams, including Social Care and Education, in order to enhance holistic care.

c) Education/Training / CPD:

Train other health professionals in child mental health
Promote and provide Education, Training and Continuing Professional Development to improve competence of systems relevant to Children and Young people with Mental Health difficulties. Some events incur a registration fee.
Contribute to developing training curricula (Grid and SPIN) for Paediatricians https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/child-mental-health-sub-specialty

d) Policy:

Take a lead to assist the development and implementation of evidence-based programmes to encourage integration of physical and emotional wellbeing in all relevant government policy.

The PMHA aims to:

Develop a resource base of expert opinion and information relating to Child Mental Health
To work towards enhanced integration of services within Health and with other agencies such as Social Care and Education to develop seamless pathways for Children and Young People.
Promote the sharing of knowledge of all aspects of child and adolescent mental health and well-being with as wide a range of different professional groups as possible

These objects are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales.

3. Membership

The PMHA offers membership for an annual fee to Paediatricians and other health care professionals who would like to support the organisation. Instructions on how to apply for membership are to be found on the PMHA website (https://www.pmha-uk.org/).
The Executive Committee management may refuse or remove membership if it is in the best interests of the organisation.
A register of members is kept and regularly updated.
PMHA members benefit from reduced attendee rate at the PMHA annual conference.

4. Management Committee

The organisation is managed by an Executive Committee which consists of volunteers. Committee members must act in the best interests of the organisation and not receive personal financial benefit, other than reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
Positions on the Executive Committee include the following roles: Convenor, Past Convenor, Deputy Convenor, Academic Convenor, Treasurer, Paediatric Trainee Representatives, Student Representative, Psychology Representative, General Paediatric Representative, Paediatric Emergency Medicine Representative, Royal College of Psychiatry link, Psychiatry Trainee Representative, Royal College of Nursing Link and SAS Paediatrician.

5. Powers

To achieve the above objectives, the organisation:

Consists of volunteer committee members who are Paediatricians and other health professionals. Positions on the Executive Committee are not paid, although members can be reimbursed for any costs arising as part of their roles, eg travel costs to face to face meetings or training events.
Organises training events, including face to face meetings, online study days and webinars.
Works in partnership with other organisations.
Employs one general administrator and one administrator for website support.

6. Meetings

The committee shall hold at least 3 meetings per year.
An AGM (Annual General Meeting) shall be held once a year at the PMHA Annual Conference and will be advertised with the programme of this training event, at least 21 days’ notice to members.
Decisions shall be made by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Convenor shall have a casting vote.

7. Finance

8. Amendments

This constitution may be amended at a General Meeting with the approval of at least two-thirds of members present, provided that any changes remain consistent with the organisation’s charitable objects.

9. Dissolution

If the organisation is wound up, any assets remaining after payment of debts shall be given to another non-profit or charity with similar aims (advocacy for children and young people’s mental health).

Agreed at the AGM on 30th January 2026

Signed:

Dr Bo Fischer

PMHA Convenor

Dr Nicola Herberholz

PMHA Treasurer