# Outcomes of a Medical Student Elective in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This pilot study shows that a child psychiatry elective improved medical students' confidence in handling youth mental health issues.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel CAP elective and demonstrates its impact on students' confidence and knowledge.

## Key findings

- Students showed increased comfort in assessing suicidal thoughts and mental health diagnoses.
- The elective improved students' understanding of biopsychosocial factors in youth mental health.
- Results suggest CAP electives may enhance confidence in managing youth mental health issues.

## Abstract

A majority of youth with mental health concerns lack access to psychiatric care, often relying on general practitioners who may feel unprepared. Enhancing medical education in child psychiatry is crucial. This study evaluated changes in medical students’ perspectives after participating in an interactive Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) elective. Significant improvements were found in students’ comfort assessing suicidal thoughts, evaluating mental health diagnoses, and understanding biopsychosocial factors. The findings suggest that participation in CAP electives may boost student confidence in handling youth mental health issues, highlighting the need for further studies on knowledge retention and career impact.