Abstract
Childhood and adolescence are crucial in terms of mental health and addiction. It is generally before adulthood that the first psychological difficulties or even disorders appear, and living conditions and family characteristics are among the risk and protection factors that influence risk not only in the short but also in the long term. What's more, psychological or addiction-related difficulties at an early age can have an impact on sociability, educational pathways and people's future on the job market, i.e. social factors which in turn have consequences in terms of mental health and addiction. Is it possible to counteract this vicious circle and reduce social inequalities in mental health during childhood and adolescence? What can be done to prevent mental disorders during childhood and adolescence, when the main determinants lie outside the healthcare system? The lecture will be followed by a seminar dealing more specifically with the definition, consequences, treatment and prevention of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder whose definition has been broadened in the latest version of psychiatric nosology, whose frequency has increased over time, and whose etiology is increasingly well known.
