Complexity is the mainstay of being human; we are all multi-faceted, with varying drivers and consequences for our experiences that inter-connect and overlap. Despite this, traditional mental health services have tended to seek categorisation and delineation, with arguably little success.

Psychologists have often been at the forefront of challenging this and supporting systems to work with the complex issues that present in mental health services, developing understanding and care for the whole person. Within inpatient settings, clinicians often support young people who have multiple problem areas, sometimes alongside neurodevelopmental issues, which can interact in terms of development, maintenance and potential solutions. 

The Forum for Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychology Services (FICAPS) is a way to connect Psychologists who work in inpatient CAMHS. In our 11th Annual conference, we will explore how complexity can present, with a particular focus on the interplay between eating difficulties and autism spectrum conditions.