AN American psychologist will present a paper to a conference on children's mental health which is being held on Teesside.

Dr David Stein, from the US, will be among a number of international speakers addressing the University of Teesside gathering organised by the Professor Steve Baldwin Foundation and Overload Network international, a Scottish children's charity supporting children with learning and behavioural problems.

Professor Baldwin, who was killed in the Selby train crash in February 2001, set up on Teesside the first clinic of its kind in the UK to provide children with alternative treatments to the amphetamine drug Ritalin, such as counselling or cognitive therapy.

Dr Stein will speak about working with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) children.

Rebecca Anderson, research student with the university's school of social sciences, said: "This conference is aimed at all people interested in the area of ADHD, whether that is parents, teachers or health professionals. Overall, the conference is highlighting that individuals do have a treatment of choice.

"The whole aim is to give a wide variety of information, which in turn can give people an insight into different approaches to treating and working with children diagnosed with ADHD.''

The conference is on September 6 and 7.