Child psychiatrist in Latviano referral, no charge, where to go

A child psychiatrist diagnoses and treats mental and behavioural disorders in children and teenagers, taking developmental stage into account.

• Anxiety and stress-related disorders
• Depression and mood disorders
• Behavioural and emotional disorders beginning in childhood or adolescence
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Eating disorders
• Psychotic disorders in adolescence

Talking to the family doctor can be a good first step if you are worried about a child or teenager. The family doctor can assess symptoms, rule out physical illness and advise on what help to seek next.

The adolescent e-resource centre states that waiting lists at the Children's Clinical University Hospital can be long, sometimes exceeding six months, and that the application procedure through the family doctor is complicated. Other options are therefore worth knowing:

• Helpline 116111 operates 24 hours a day, free and anonymously.
• The Adolescent Resource Centre offers free consultations at branches in nine Latvian cities. It is open weekdays 11:00 to 19:00, and consultations are by prior appointment only.
• The municipal social service may offer psychologist consultations, adolescent groups and parent training. What is offered varies considerably between cities, so contact the service where you live.
• State-funded psychologist or psychotherapist support is available on referral from a family doctor or child psychiatrist for certain diagnoses.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at RSU or the University of Latvia.
• Residency. RSU states the total training is four years: two years in psychiatry and two years, being the third and fourth years, in child psychiatry. Programme page: RSU residency programme.
• Research and teaching work are carried out during residency.
• The programme covers how child and adolescent psychiatric services are organised and their ethical and legal principles, how competences are divided between specialists, diagnostic and treatment methods, psychological and psychodiagnostic assessment, and neurological examination to the extent a psychiatrist needs it.
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points plus a 48.38 EUR fee.
• Entry in the practitioners register must be renewed every 5 years.

• The waiting list. If the wait is long, use the free support options available immediately at the same time.
• The child's age. Services for teenagers differ from care for young children, so state the age when booking.
• Languages. A child or teenager needs to speak in a language they are comfortable in.
• Parental involvement. Some programmes include consultations for parents, which often affects the outcome.
• Second opinion. A child's legal representative may freely choose the doctor and institution.

• The visit starts with a conversation about the child's difficulties, how long they have lasted, the situation at home and school, and any previous help.
• Bring information about the child's development, school feedback if any, and a list of all medicines taken.
• A teenager may find it easier to talk without a parent present for part of the conversation, and that is normal.
• Based on the initial assessment an individual treatment programme is drawn up, which may include sessions with a clinical psychologist or a child and adolescent psychotherapist, and individual or group consultations for the teenager's parents.
• If the condition requires it, the doctor may offer day hospital or inpatient treatment.

Children under 18 are exempt from patient co-payments, and psychiatric care in the state programme is free. The helpline and Adolescent Resource Centre consultations are also free.

• Child psychiatry consultation in the state programmePrice EUR: 0.00Source: NVD, exemption for children under 18
• Helpline 116111, chat and written consultationsPrice EUR: 0.00Source: Child Protection Centre
• Adolescent Resource Centre consultationPrice EUR: 0.00Source: Adolescent Resource Centre
• Psychologist or psychotherapist sessions on referralPrice EUR: 0.00Source: NVD
• Private child psychiatry consultationPrice EUR: per clinic price listSource: private clinics

The specialty body is the Latvian Association of Child Psychiatrists, registration number 40008160136, contact Anete Masaļska.

Adult psychiatry is represented by the Latvian Psychiatric Association, registration number 40008172347.

Helpline 116111 is operated by the Child Protection Centre, a state institution.

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association. The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate.

If you have doubts about the care a child received, raise them first with the provider's management. If that does not resolve it, the child's legal representative may submit a written complaint to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement. It is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site.

If a child discloses abuse, contact 113 or the police; the helpline 116111 is also available.