DOI: 10.13056/acamh.15445
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.15445

We are proud to bring you the third podcast in our series that focuses on Tourette Syndrome. Dr. Seonaid Anderson will be talking to leading players in the field, rising stars of research, clinicians, and experts by experience. In this podcast we speak to Dr. Tammy Hedderly, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist established and leads the Tics and Neurodevelopmental Movement Service or ‘TANDeM service’ at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Tammy gives an overview tics, tic disorders and Tourette syndrome are, and the work of the TANDem service. The conversation moves to findings in Tammy’s recent paper, in particular, three groups are identified. Firstly, some people, who have tics and tic disorders already, are experiencing an increase in the intensity and frequency since the pandemic started. Secondly, people who may have had very mild tics but because of the situation of the pandemic, potentially led them to meet a threshold for diagnosis for a tic disorder. And finally, a group of adolescent females where it seems almost like a complete and sudden onset in these adolescents.

Tammy also offers advice, for both parents and clinicians, as to the type of questions to ask, how to manage tics, and the difference this could make.

'Tics, and Tic Disorders; the sudden onsets and influences of the pandemic' - Dr. Tammy Hedderly

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.17233
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.17233

In this podcast, we talk to Dr. Melissa Mulraney, Senior Lecturer and co-leader of the Child Mental Health Research Centre at the Institute for Social Neuroscience in Melbourne, Australia, Honorary Research Fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, and Associate Editor of CAMH.

Melissa discusses what influenced her to specialise in child and adolescent mental health, as well as highlights some of her most recent papers that focus on her research interests (ADHD, emotional dysregulation and sleep).

Melissa also discusses her work at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, including her work on several clinical trials of behavioural interventions for child mental health problems.

Melissa has won the World Federation of ADHD Young Scientist Award in both 2019 and 2021 and, in this podcast, talks about her work on suicidality and self-harm in adolescents with ADHD.

Furthermore, we hear Melissa talk about the importance of evidence-based research when it comes to children and young people’s mental health, plus what more can be done to disseminate and promote evidence-based science.

ADHD, Self-Harm, & the Importance of Early Childhood Intervention - Dr. Melissa Mulraney

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.18254
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.18254

In this podcast, we are joined by Dr. Ann Ozsivadjian, independent clinical psychologist and visiting senior lecturer at King’s College London, and Dr. Penny Williams, consultant speech and language therapist at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Ann and Penny set the scene by explaining the difference between self-harm and self-injurious behaviours in the context of autistic children, and provide insight into how common self-harm is in autistic people, as well as what is currently understood about why autistic children and young people self-harm.

In addition, Ann and Penny discuss whether there are certain situations that can act as triggers, how parents can help to reduce these stressors, where parents can get help for an autistic child who is harming themselves, and what support can they expect to receive. We also hear about nonverbal strategies that can help when it comes to self-injurious behaviour.

Furthermore, Ann and Penny also talk to us about whether there is a link between self-harm and suicidal ideation, what parents should do if they are worried about this, and what advice they have for autistic older children and young people who may be listening to this podcast.

We are delighted that this podcast series for parents is supported by the Autism Diagnostic Practice at Clinical Partners. Working nationwide with only the most experienced consultants, Clinical Partners ensures you get the best ASD diagnosis and help tailored specifically to your child, as fast as possible.

Self-harm & Self-Injury – Ep. 9 ‘Autism a parents guide’

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.18322
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.18322

In this podcast, we talk to Jessica Armitage, a PhD researcher currently based in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol.

We hear about Jessica’s interest in understanding the factors that enable individuals to overcome experiences and adversity, plus what prompted her interest in this field.

Jessica also discusses her co-authored JCPP Advances paper, ‘Positive wellbeing and resilience following adolescent victimisation: An exploration into protective factors across development’ (doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12024), including a summary of the paper, insight into the methodology used, and her key findings.

Jessica also explores how she defines ‘good wellbeing’, and elaborates on her paper’s findings that factors that support wellbeing do not necessarily reduce the risk of depression.

Furthermore, Jessica talks about the concept of school competence, providing further insight into her findings from the paper showing that victims of bullying who hold higher perceptions of scholastic competence in childhood have greater wellbeing in adulthood than victims who reported lower scholastic competence in childhood. Jessica also elaborates on what other protective factors proved important moderators of adult wellbeing following peer victimisation in childhood.

Positive Wellbeing and Resilience following Adolescent Victimisation

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.20476
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.20476

This Refugee Week, we are joined by Professor Panos Vostanis to explore the impact of trauma on the mental health of child refugees and other young people living in conflict.

Discussion points include:
- Trauma as it relates to child refugees and other young people in conflict.
- What WACIT is and the goals of the organisation, before detailing some of the training services for CAMH professionals who work with refugees, asylum-seekers, and other vulnerable groups.
- What the evidence shows to be the best approach to take when it comes to working with children and adolescent refugees who’ve experienced significant trauma.

WACIT; Refugee Mental Health and the Impact of Trauma

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.20737
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.20737

In this podcast, we are joined by Sally Hogg, Deputy CEO at the Parent Infant Foundation, to discuss early trauma and the importance of early relationships.

Discussion points include:
- The 1001 days movement and what it is about the first 1001 days of a child’s life that is so critical.
- The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on mental and physical health.
- Why we should be especially concerned about adversity that occurs early in a child’s life.
- How early trauma impacts emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and social functioning.
- The importance of nurturing parent/infant relationships, and how its presence can help a child to be more resilient to negative events.
- How the relationship between babies and their parents can be strengthened.
- Tips on how to reach those parents where there is disorganised attachment, who don’t access services, and how to signpost those families to services.

Early Trauma and the Importance of Early Relationships

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.20792
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.20792

In this podcast, we are joined by Lizzy Winstone to discuss her co-authored JCPP Advances paper ‘Adolescent social media user types and their mental health and well-being, results from a longitudinal survey of 13 to 14-year-olds in the United Kingdom’.

There is an overview of the paper, methodology, key findings, and implications for practice.

Discussion points include:
- Why the distinction between 'active' and 'passive' social media may be too simplistic.
- Four classes of social media users – high communicators, moderate communicators, broadcasters, and minimal users - and how these groups behave.
- Moderate social media screen time as beneficial to well-being, in comparison to no use at all.

Social Media Use in Adolescence: User Types and Mental Health

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.25265
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.25265

'Colouring the Mind: Racism and Mental Health' is a new In Conversation mini-series that will explore how racism affects mental health, with a particular focus on racism in the mental health system and racism in the mental health concept.

In this episode, Malaika Okundi and Jessica O’Logbon focus on the concept of racism in mental health and discuss definitions of race, racism, and mental health as concepts.

Discussion points include:

The definition of ‘race’.
Racism, colourism, and the impact on mental health.
Lived experience of the different levels of racism (internalised, interpersonal, institutional, and systemic).
What defines mental health and what the link is between racism and mental health.
The importance of lived experience researchers.
Why representation matters in studies and in roles of influence.

Please note that what Malaika and Jess share in this series is derived from their work, as well as from research and literature surrounding these topics. Whilst they are not experts on racism or mental health, personal experience does play a role in their discussions.

Colouring the Mind: Racism and Mental Health - The Concept

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.25473
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.25473

In this Papers Podcast, Samantha Perlstein discusses her co-authored JCPP paper ‘Treatment of childhood disruptive behavior disorders and callous-unemotional traits: a systematic review and two multilevel meta-analyses’ (https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.13774). Samantha is the first author of the paper.

Discussion points include:

- Definition of disruptive behaviour disorders and callous-unemotional traits.
- The main research questions in this study.
- The research gaps that the study tried to address.
- Implications from a researcher, and practitioners’, perspective.

In this series, we speak to authors of papers published in one of ACAMH’s three journals. These are The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JCPP); The Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) journal; and JCPP Advances.

Treatment of Childhood Disruptive Behaviour Disorders and Callous-Unemotional Traits

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.26112
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.26112

In this In Conversation podcast, we are joined by the President of PRUsAP, Sarah Johnson. Sarah also advises the Department for Education for Alternative Provision and is the Director of Pheonix Education Consultancy. Sarah published two books in Autumn 2023 focusing on social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) which are part of the series ‘All about SEMH’.

Discussion points include:

- The definition of SEMH and what Alternative Provisions are like in the UK.
- The challenges children with SEMH needs may face in the classroom environment.
- How equipped is mainstream education to support SEMH needs of children.
- Current message to policymakers on the provision of education for SEMH children.
- An overview of Sarah’s upcoming books and how might teachers use them.

Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) and Alternative Provision in Education

https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Time_to_Prioritize_Mental_Health_in_the_Workplace%3a_Teacher_Mental_Health_and_Wellbeing/cfb51caf-e43d-4f7d-a7c4-13bf32e4466c

In this special In Conversation podcast for World Mental Health Day, we are joined by Professor Jonathan Glazzard. The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is ‘It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’ and this podcast will focus on teacher mental health and wellbeing.

Learning Objectives
1. A definition of mental health in terms of teacher wellbeing and the current state of teacher mental health in the United Kingdom.
2. What influences teacher mental health and wellbeing and why teacher mental health and wellbeing is getting worse.
3. The similarities and differences across school sectors, career development, and role types.
4. Is there more that training providers can do outside of what is mandated by the government guidelines?
5. The impact of poor teacher mental health and wellbeing on students.
6. The experiences of marginalised groups and their mental health.
7. The potential solutions and what can be done differently to support resilience.

#ListenLearnLike

Time To Prioritize Mental Health In The Workplace: Teacher Mental Health And Wellbeing

https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Social_Media_Experiences_and_Proximal_Risk_for_Adolescent_Suicidal_Ideation/d4b12557-f441-4539-89f1-822fb18e1681

Social media has received considerable attention as a potential risk factor for adolescent suicide. In this Papers Podcast, Dr. Jessica Hamilton discusses her JCPP paper ‘Positive and negative social media experiences and proximal risk for suicidal ideation in adolescents’. There is an overview of the paper, key findings, and implications for practice.

Learning Objectives
1. The perceived narratives around social media and suicide risk.
2. The importance of the inclusion of young people in the research process.
3. The complex and nuanced relationship between social media and suicidal ideation.
4. Is too much emphasis placed on screen time with regards to suicide risk factors and mental health?
5. The different types of negative and positive social media experiences and the effects these have on suicidal ideation.
6. How this research can inform Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) professionals in terms of interventions and prevention of suicide in children and young people.
7. Insights for policymakers and stakeholders.

Social Media Experiences and Proximal Risk for Adolescent Suicidal Ideation

https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Nature_and_Nurture_in_Fussy_Eating/5c0f0111-dbef-4837-9064-9c5620bbb96a

In this Papers Podcast, Dr. Ali Fildes, Dr. Moritz Herle, Dr. Zeynep Nas, and Dr. Clare Llewellyn discuss their co-authored JCPP paper ‘Nature and nurture in fussy eating from toddlerhood to early adolescence: findings from the Gemini twin cohort’. There is an overview of the paper, key findings, and implications for practice.

Learning Objectives
1. A definition of ‘food fussiness’ and why we should be concerned with it.
2. How do you determine between ‘food fussiness’ and people liking different things.
3. Adverse outcomes of fussy eating and how common this is in childhood.
4. At what point does fussy eating become an issue?
5. Key findings from the JCPP paper including the trajectory of fussy eating and the impact of genetic differences and environmental influences.

Nature and Nurture in Fussy Eating

 Watch the video at https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Inside_the_Teen_Brain_-_Just_be_Yourself/1cda6d0f-b326-4e89-bd94-55fbfaf0654f

Description
In this episode, Inside the Teen Brain: Just Be Yourself, Professor Deborah Christie joins Dr. Jane Gilmour to discuss the complexities of identity formation during adolescence. Professor Christie explores how creative therapeutic approaches, such as metaphors and frameworks, can provide adolescents with a safe space to reflect on their strengths, abilities, and aspirations. The conversation highlights the significant role of peers, family, and supportive networks in shaping a young person’s sense of self. Professor Christie also emphasizes the importance of fostering environments where adolescents can explore their evolving identities in a positive and empowering way. Drawing on her extensive experience, she shares practical insights for professionals to help young people navigate this pivotal developmental stage. 

Learning Objectives
 1. To understand the key challenges adolescents face in forming their identity. 
2. To explore how creative therapeutic techniques can empower young people to reflect on their strengths and aspirations. 
3. To recognize the role of peers, family, and supportive networks in shaping adolescent identity. 



Inside the Teen Brain - Just be Yourself. Dr. Jane Gilmour talks to Prof. Deborah Christie

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13662
https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Emotion_Regulation_Difficulties_and_Differences_in_Autism/7a1faf0e-2416-4fb7-872f-02b853640fd2

In this Papers Podcast, Dr. Nicky Greaves discusses her JCPP Advances Clinical Review paper ‘Emotion regulation difficulties and differences in autism including demand-avoidant presentations—A clinical review of research and models, and a proposed conceptual formulation: Neural-preferencing locus of control (NP-LOC)’.

Learning Objectives
1. Insight into a definition of emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation and what the research says about the emotion regulation difficulties and differences in autistic young people.
2. The impact of core autistic features on emotion regulation in autistic individuals and the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and demand-avoidant presentations in autism.
3. Effective and ineffective strategies for emotion regulation and the current models for emotion regulation differences for autistic young people.
4. How emotion regulation abilities develop in neurotypical populations.
5. Insight into the Neural Preferencing Locus of Control (NP-LOC) formulation hypothesis in autism and how the NP-LOC model can contribute to our understanding of anxiety and depression in autistic individuals.
6. The practical implications for education and clinical practice and the impact of early interventions and social understanding on emotion regulation in autistic children.

Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Differences in Autism

https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Special_Educational_Needs_(SEN)_Provision_and_Academic_Outcomes%3a_Exploring_the_Impact_of_Teacher_Reported_Language_Difficulties_at_School_Entry/4f83cd24-20eb-4db9-b8d0-a460d42980f2

In this Papers Podcast, Dr. Sarah Griffiths discusses her co-authored JCPP Advances paper ‘Special educational needs provision and academic outcomes for children with teacher reported language difficulties at school entry’. There is an overview of the paper, methodology, key findings, and implications for practice.

Learning Objectives
1. Definition of Developmental Language Disorder and other language difficulties, as well as insight into the Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES).
2. Context around the English education system and insight into when the identification of various types of difficulties typically starts to happen.
3. The types of Special Educational Needs (SEN) that children might be identified as having during the Primary years at school and the need to distinguish between children who have language impairments and other children who have English as an additional language.
4. The relationship between teacher reported language difficulties at school entry and academic performance at key assessment points throughout primary school.
5. For children with teacher-reported language difficulties at school entry, what predicts receipt of special education provision during primary school?

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Provision and Academic Outcomes: Exploring the Impact of Teacher Reported Language Difficulties at School Entry

https://acamhlearn.org/Learning/Inside_the_Teen_Brain_-_A_State_of_Independence/e3c36295-e6fc-4e6d-8f18-a3d56535ea23

In this episode, Inside the Teen Brain: Youth Experience in CAMHS, Isabella Plows shares her lived experience of accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and reflects on the key factors that supported her recovery. She highlights the importance of building trusting, consistent relationships with professionals, the value of clear communication, and the need for structured and goal-oriented care. Isabella also discusses the challenges young people face while waiting for services, offering practical suggestions such as regular updates, access to resources, and community-based support to bridge this gap. Emphasizing the importance of continuity, she highlights the value of extending CAMHS support to age 25 to better align with ongoing brain development and life transitions. This insightful conversation provides invaluable perspectives for professionals striving to improve services for young people.

Learning Objectives
A. To understand the importance of building trusting and consistent relationships with young people in mental health services.
B. To explore strategies for supporting young people during waiting periods for CAMHS interventions.
C. To identify opportunities for improving continuity and structure in mental health care for adolescents and young adults.

Inside the Teen Brain - A State of Independence

Dr. Jane Gilmour talks to Dr. Dominique Thompson

An important part of growing up is taking risks... but are our youngest generation still taking enough risks, or the right kind of risks? Are they in fact 'Generation Sensible', or is this a misunderstanding? How can we support them to take good risks whilst supporting their mental health? We cover all this and more in a fascinating discussion about teen risk taking. 

Learning Objectives
1. To understand why teens take risks 
2. To understand why this generation may be different 
3. To discover some practical ways to support healthy risk taking 



Inside the Teen Brain - 'Risky Business'

In this Mind The Kids podcast junior doctor Clara Faria brings listeners into the heart of child and adolescent mental health care. In this episode, Clara welcomes Dr. Robyn McCarron, consultant psychiatrist at Cambridge’s Darwin Centre, for a candid conversation about the realities and challenges of inpatient care for young people.

Trigger warning: Sensitive topics such as restrictive practices, eating disorders, and trauma are discussed. Listener discretion is advised.

Robyn shares her journey revealing how her experiences shaped her belief that traditional models often fall short for the most complex and vulnerable patients. She describes the inpatient ward as a place where young people arrive carrying not just medical diagnoses, but also deep histories of trauma, developmental struggles, and social adversity. Robyn’s approach is rooted in values—respect, safety, and discovery—always striving to minimize harm and empower young people to participate in their own care.

The episode explores the delicate balance between necessary interventions, like feeding under restraint for life-threatening eating disorders, and the risk of causing further trauma. Clara and Robyn also discuss the importance of supporting young people to regain independence and rebuild their lives outside the hospital, breaking cycles of readmission. Robyn’s reflections are honest and inspiring, highlighting the privilege and challenge of helping young people navigate some of their darkest moments.

This episode is a powerful reminder that mental health care is about more than protocols—it’s about relationships, trust, and the courage to rethink how we support the next generation.



Mind the Kids - Navigating Eating Disorders Trauma in CAMHS

Welcome to Mind The Kids, hosted by Mark Tebbs. In this episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Charlotte Viktorsson, a behavioural genetics researcher at Uppsala University, to explore the genetic and environmental influences on infant sleep and crying. Drawing on findings from a major study involving nearly 1,000 sets of Swedish twins, they discuss how much of a baby's crying is down to genetics and why sleep quality often depends on home routines and environment.

If you're a parent in the thick of sleepless nights or frequent tears, this episode offers both reassurance and fresh insight. Dr. Viktorsson explains why some babies simply cry more than others—even in the best of circumstances—and shares practical advice for supporting your child's wellbeing in those challenging early months. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that brings clarity and comfort to anyone caring for young children.

Based on the findings of ‘Genetic and environmental influences on sleep quality, ability to settle, and crying duration in 2- and 5-month-old infants: A longitudinal twin study’ Charlotte Viktorsson, Ashraf Yahia, Mark J. Taylor, Angelica Ronald, Kristiina Tammimies, Terje Falck-Ytter. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70023


Mind the Kids - Behind the Tears: The Surprising Role of Genetics in Infant Crying

Welcome to this episode of Mind the Kids, the podcast from the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. In an episode titled 'Income(ing): Poverty and Resilience' Dr. Jane Gilmour and Professor Umar Toseeb are joined by Dr. Divyangana Rakesh from King’s College London, to discuss her groundbreaking research on cognitive resilience among children growing up in poverty.

The discussion centers on the paper 'Beyond the Income Achievement Gap: The Role of Individual, Family, and Environmental Factors in Cognitive Resilience Among Low-Income Youth' published in JCPP Advances. You can access the full article via DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12297.

Dr. Rakesh shares insights into how some children manage to thrive cognitively despite economic hardship. As she explains, “Although growing up in poverty carries many risks, some children defy the odds and demonstrate positive cognitive outcomes. Identifying factors that promote such resilience in disadvantaged contexts is essential for informing interventions and policies.” She highlights the crucial role of family, community, and individual factors that can foster resilience and improve educational outcomes.

Join us as we explore the complex interplay of these factors and what they mean for child mental health and societal action. This episode is essential listening for anyone invested in understanding and supporting young people’s development in disadvantaged contexts.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your networks.



Mind the Kids - Income(ing): Poverty and Resilience

This episode of 'Mind the Kids - When Sleep & Anxiety Collide' is hosted by Mark Tebbs, who is joined by Liga Eihentale, an early career research scientist at Florida International University, whose work focuses on anxiety, memory, and sleep in peri-adolescence.

The conversation centres around Liga’s recent paper titled 'Anxiety severity in peri-adolescents is associated with greater generalization of negative memories following a period of sleep relative to wake" published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.70005).

The episode explores how sleep impacts emotional memory consolidation in anxious youth during this sensitive developmental period. Liga highlights key findings, explaining that “sleep plays an active role in shaping how young people perceive and generalize negative experiences, especially in those with higher anxiety.” She further notes, “higher anxiety severity in youth is associated with greater negative memory generalization after sleep, which could help us understand the mechanisms behind anxiety disorders.”

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the interplay between anxiety, sleep, and memory, and what these findings mean for potential intervention strategies targeting young people at risk of anxiety disorders. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with those interested in the future of mental health interventions.



Mind the Kids - When Sleep & Anxiety Collide

Picture a young person arriving at their first mental health appointment, weighed down not only by their difficulties but also by the puzzle of navigating referrals, assessments, and uncertainty. Beneath the clinical process is a story shaped by hope, resilience, and the powerful impact of relationships and evidence in shaping outcomes. From stories of children and families seeking answers to frontline professionals looking for better ways to help, this episode, ‘Diagnosis with Heart: The Promise and Challenges of SDA Tools’ journey’s beyond statistics—asking how new tools can foster partnership, streamline care, and preserve the personal moments that make a real difference.

Welcome to the Mind the Kids podcast series. In this episode host Mark Tebbs invites listeners to step into the world of assessment through both the lens of rigorous research and lived experience.

Mark is joined by Dr. Salah Basheer and Dr. Sue Fen Tan, whose review article in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health journal ‘The acceptability and effectiveness of standardised diagnostic assessment approaches in children and young people's mental health services – an updated systematic review’  asks: can SDAs provide clarity and fairness for families, protect against missed diagnoses, and support clinicians facing daunting demand and stretched resources? Mark and his guests reflect on what’s needed to turn hope into lasting change: robust research, authentic collaboration, and the courage to keep listening to every child’s story.

As Salah reflects, “We are not talking about these tools replacing clinical practice—we’re asking whether, used as an add-on, they can help clinicians provide the right care at the right time.” Sue Fen Tan, meanwhile, reminds us that, “A tool is only as good as its real-world application. If clinicians and families don’t find it user-friendly and meaningful, it won’t make a difference. Empathy and the human touch must remain at the heart of clinical care.”

Whether a clinician, policymaker, or someone passionate about mental health, listeners leave with new questions, practical insights, and the reminder that the path to better outcomes is built as much on compassion as on evidence. If the episode moves you, please share or review to help spread fresh perspectives in child and adolescent mental health.

CAMH Journal DOI https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/camh.70007?af=R


Mind the Kids - Diagnosis with Heart: The Promise and Challenges of SDA Tools

What began on a cold November night with a simple cup of hot chocolate and some open ears grew into a vibrant, inclusive space where young people, often misunderstood by schools and society, found a place to be themselves.

In this episode of Mind the Kids, ‘Home fae Home: Hot Chocolate Helping Trauma’ we step into the heart of a community transformed by compassion, creativity, and co-design. 

Join host Mark Tebbs as he meets the passionate team on a remarkable project; Charis Robertson, Anne McKechnie, Gary Kennedy, and Lindsey McIntosh—experts from diverse backgrounds including community development, clinical psychology, architecture, and design.

Hear how the Hot Chocolate Trust in Dundee — a grassroots organisation that for over 25 years has offered refuge and belonging to young people often on the margins. 

Through a remarkable collaboration between youth workers, trauma-informed psychologists, architects, and designers, this episode explores an inspiring journey of transforming a historic church building into a sanctuary designed by the young people themselves. Using innovative and playful methods, the team engaged these youths in the co-creation process, listening deeply to their stories, needs, and visions to shape a space that truly feels like their own.

Hear the stories of small moments that sparked big change — from impromptu pancake parties to spray paint workshops — and discover how trauma-informed practice goes beyond therapy to embrace community, trust, and empowerment. This is about creating safe spaces that honour identity, choice, and belonging, where healing happens naturally through connection and creativity.

Whether you’re a youth worker, mental health professional, designer, or simply someone who believes in the power of community, this episode offers a deeply human perspective on how to listen, engage, and build environments that help young people not just survive, but thrive.


Read the paper in the CAMH journal 'Home Fae Home: A case study in co-designing trauma-informed community spaces with young people in Dundee, Scotland'
Charis Robertson, Gary Kennedy, Linsey McIntosh, Anne McKechnie
https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12765


Mind the Kids: Home fae Home: Hot Chocolate Helping Trauma

Welcome to Mind the Kids, the podcast from the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.  Today’s episode takes us into the complex world of parenting programmes—the backbone of many early interventions for children with disruptive behaviour problems. This episode is entitles 'More Than Money: Nudging Parents, Breaking Barriers, Transforming Futures'.

Host Mark Tebbs speaks with Dr. Nathan Hodson, child and adolescent psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Warwick, whose work explores how financial incentives might help bring more parents into these transformative programmes. Drawing on behavioural economics and evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis, Nathan and Mark delve into one of the field’s most pressing challenges: engagement. 

As they discuss, the question isn’t whether parenting support works—the evidence is clear that it does—but how to ensure families facing the toughest circumstances can access and stay with it. Could small, well-targeted incentives help remove barriers such as transport, childcare, or lost work time? And what does it mean for equity, motivation, and policy design?

This episode is as much about compassion as it is about data. It’s a conversation that asks us to see every parent not as “hard to reach,” but as balancing complex lives where practical help can make all the difference. Whether you’re a policymaker, practitioner, or researcher, you’ll find insight here into how behavioural nudges and empathy might work hand in hand to build fairer, more effective systems of support.

Mind the Kids brings research to life—because improving children’s mental health starts with understanding the stories behind the studies.​

This episode relates to ACAMH's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Journal paper 'Review: Systematic review and meta-analysis – financial incentives increase engagement with parenting programs for disruptive behavior problems'
Nathan Hodson, Madiha Majid, Richard James, Eileen K. Graham, Daniel K. Mroczek, Rinad S. Beidas
https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12746




Mind the Kids - More Than Money: Nudging Parents, Breaking Barriers, Transforming Futures

Does it really matter which type of therapy you choose? In this Mind the Kids episode, hosts Dr. Jane Gilmour and Prof. Umar Toseeb sit down with Professor Ian Goodyer from the University of Cambridge to unpack one of the most provocative findings in youth mental health research: different types of psychotherapy for adolescent depression work equally well—but not for the reasons we thought.

Drawing from the landmark IMPACT trial (the largest UK study of its kind with 465 participants), Professor Goodyer reveals surprising insights that challenge decades of therapeutic orthodoxy. Using cutting-edge network analysis, his team discovered that the key drivers of recovery aren't what therapists predicted—they're fatigue and insomnia, not the psychological symptoms clinicians typically focus on.

What You'll Learn
- The Common Factors Debate: Why CBT, psychoanalytic therapy, and brief psychosocial intervention showed no significant differences in outcomes
- The Speed of Recovery: Why most young people improved faster than any therapy manual predicted (often in just 6-12 sessions instead of 20-30)
- Network Science Meets Mental Health: How symptoms influence each other over time—and why this changes everything about diagnosis and treatment
- The Sleep Connection: Why addressing fatigue and insomnia might be more crucial than we realized for adolescent depression
- The Role of Time: Why recovery continues for 12 months after therapy ends, with remarkably low relapse rates

Why This Matters
This isn't just an academic debate. These findings have profound implications for:
Clinicians: Rethinking assessment priorities and treatment planning
Trainees: Understanding what really drives therapeutic change
Researchers: Opening new avenues for investigating mental health interventions
Policy makers: Allocating resources more effectively in child and adolescent mental health services

Perfect for: Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, researchers, students, and anyone interested in what really works in mental health treatment—and why.


From the JCPP paper ‘Dynamics of depression symptoms in adolescents during three types of psychotherapy and post-treatment follow-up’

Madison Aitken, Sharon A.S. Neufeld, Clement Ma, IMPACT Consortium, Ian M. Goodyer

https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14175

Mind the Kids - Rebooting the Great Psychotherapy Debate

Renowned clinical psychologist, Kim Golding, discusses how we can support developmentally traumatised children and their parents, as well as how support for adopted children has changed in the UK over the years.

Kim will be speaking at an upcoming ACAMH conference, "Introduction to Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Parenting and Practice".

In Conversation... Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

Professor Courtenay Norbury defines Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), expands on its impact and discusses how and when to identify it. Together with Jo Carlowe, psychology journalist, she explores the critical nature of effective interventions and what current thinking says about the causes. The next steps for raising awareness are identified along with ways to improve outcomes for DLD.

In Conversation... Developmental Language Disorder

Professor David Olds, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health, University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics, talks to freelance journalist Jo Carlowe about his career and the Family-Nurse Partnership.

David is the Keynote Speaker at the Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture and National Conference (8 March 2019) - 'Attachment & Early Intervention: Improving emotional wellbeing and relationships in the family, and at school.'

The title of his talk is 'Using Randomized Clinical Trials of the Family-Nurse Partnership to Inform Policy, Practice, and Developmental Science.'


David says of his discussion: 'I will use our experience in developing, testing, and replicating the Nurse-Family Partnership to address the following questions. How can we design early parental interventions to maximize their likelihood of working? How can we design research to build a strong evidence-base for early-intervention? How can we scale evidence-based early interventions to maximize their societal impact?'

Professor David Olds talks about the Family-Nurse Partnership

Dr Jennifer Shields & Dr Sarah Brown discuss Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) with freelance journalist Jo Carlowe.

FASD is the most common preventable non-genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorders in the UK. FASD is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual with prenatal alcohol exposure. These effects can have lifelong implications including physical, mental, behavior, and/or learning issues.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with Dr Jennifer Shields & Dr Sarah Brown

8 Jul, 11:55
Dr. Dasha Nicholls, reader of Child Psychiatry, Imperial College London discusses eating disorders, with freelance journalist Jo Carlowe.

Dr. Dasha Nicholls talks about eating and feeding disorders in children and young people. Raising awareness, Nicholls aims to level the playing field; noting that the mortality rate is higher than that of diabetes and asthma. She highlights adolescence is an important time for early intervention.

In Conversation... Eating Disorders with Dr. Dasha Nicholls

In this podcast series 'Autism, a parents guide' Dr. Ann Ozsivadjian discusses autism with freelance journalist Jo Carlowe.

Episode 1 looks at 'Identifying Autism - getting the right diagnosis', and Ann looks at the types and behaviours in children may get parents/carers to question if their child could be autistic, and what they can do to.

We are delighted to that this podcast series for parents is supported by the Autism Diagnostic Practice at Clinical Partners. Working nationwide with only the most experienced consultants, Clinical Partners ensures you get the best ASD diagnosis and help tailored specifically to your child, as fast as possible. Discover more.

'Identifying Autism - getting the right diagnosis' with Dr. Ann Ozsivadjian

Dr. Ann Ozsivadjian and Dr. Marianna Murin discuss the prevalence of autism in girls and the challenges faced. Whether girls get treated differently to boys and what interventions and support are most beneficial.

How autism presents differently in girls - Episode 3 'Autism, a parents guide'

In this podcast David and Simon look at the field of work relating to complex PTSD, and expand on the causes, explaining how it differentiates from standard PTSD. They discuss specific focus on looked after children, detailing how we can support them and mitigate the impacts in the group of, particularly prevalent young people.

In Conversation... Complex PTSD with Dr David Turgoose and Dr Simon Wilkinson

Episode 6 with Dr. Vicki Ford looks at food sensitivities and proclivities, how to build a healthy relationship with food whilst understanding the challenges for many autistic children.

Food Sensitivities and Proclivities - Episode 6 'Autism, a parents guide' with Dr. Vicki Ford

Dr. Emily McGlinchey, and Dr. Joseph Morning discuss Harnessing Emotional Regulation Skills.

They talk about how emotional regulation manifests in children and young people, together with the key strategies and interventions. There is advice and tips for parents, and a discussion about the role of education and what schools can do.

Dr. McGlinchey explains the current research, key takeaways, and importance of putting the research into practice. This is further explained by Dr. Morning as he gives examples of his work at Verbal, and WellRead.

In Conversation... Emotional Regulation with Dr. Emily McGlinchey, and Dr. Joseph Morning

Ann discusses when challenging behaviour can be deemed as Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), and how to recognise this.

Although PDA is not currently formally recognised as part of an autism diagnosis, there is growing evidence showing it can be included in an autism profile. Ann suggests strategies to try at home to help manage the behaviour, getting to the core of the behaviour and how to have conversations with teachers, schools and other institutions to support children.

Challenging Behaviour and Demand Avoidance - 'Autism a parents guide' with Dr Ann Ozsivadjian

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13766
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.13766

In this podcast, Professor Nick Allen, Director of the Centre for Digital Mental Health at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon, talks about developmental transitions from childhood to adolescence. 

Nick discusses the types of mental health problems that commonly emerge during or after this period, and details so of the interesting interventions he is using. This includes the exploration of digital ways of tracking and analysing behaviour to detect mental health needs, using digital tools for the detection of mental health difficulties, and its provision of personalised interventions.

Emotional functioning in the transition from childhood to adolescence, and beyond - Prof Nick Allen

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.14629
https://doi.org/10.13056/acamh.14629

In this podcast we talk to Professor Anita Thapar, Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University. A researcher and a clinician, Anita is also on the board of the UK national neurodiversity charity ADHD Foundation.

Anita talks about the relationship between disorders, such as, ADHD and autism, the elevated risk of later depression, and what is known about the mechanisms behind this association.

Anita also looks at what factors may be protective in terms of mitigating the association between neurodevelopmental disorders and youth depression, and how research can impact, or change, the trajectory, from childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, to youth depression.

'ADHD, autism, and the elevated risk of later depression' In conversation with Prof. Anita Thapar

These podcasts are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in child and adolescent mental health. They bridge the gap between rigorous research and practical application, featuring expert discussions on mental health. 

Each episode highlights cutting-edge studies offering insights into findings, and implications for practice. The series caters to clinicians, researchers, and those interested in mental health. 

Available on major platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, it’s an accessible way to stay informed about advancements in the field.
Visit our website (www.acamh.org) for a host of free evidence-based mental health resources.

Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

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