The review of epidemiological studies of psychiatric disorders in children and teenagers in Latin America, is validated and updated in this article. The present article incorporates variants that are contributed from the neurosciences, which allow us to see difficulties as opportunities, across such mechanisms as the plasticity neuronal, trying to change paradigms, frequently pessimistic in this type of review, and we call for the active participation of all the scientific societies of our countries in the development of public policies, based on prevention, for the vulnerability of the rights of our children and teenagers suggesting a multidisciplinary boarding in mental health. © 2010 Institute of Psychiatry.