News

By Fiona Gale and Clay Frake.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
£14.95
ISBN 1 85302 929 7

At a time when it is increasingly clear that children's mental health needs cannot be wholly met by scarce highly specialised professionals, it is helpful to have this clear and uncomplicated handbook to support front-line workers.

The authors have brought together basic child development, a discussion of risk factors, frameworks for assessment and treatment and management strategies.

Interspersed throughout the text are case studies and exercises, which can be used by individual readers as they go along, or formally with a group.

The book is full of common sense and does not promise unrealistic outcomes.

However, it shows that much can be done at the primary care level if a thorough assessment is carried out and clear plans for an appropriate therapy agreed and recorded. Treatments must be reviewed and adapted as necessary; nothing must be allowed to drift.

The handbook underlines the importance of the role of the primary mental health worker, both as a case worker and in consultation with others working with children, complementing the more traditional child mental health professions.

Dinah Morley is deputy director, YoungMinds.