Acknowledging Teens’ Perspectives Leads to Stronger Self-Worth, Less Depression

A new study has found that when parents acknowledge the perspectives of their adolescent children and encourage them to express themselves, the kids have a stronger sense of self-worth, intrinsic motivation, and engagement, and also have less depression. Click here for PsychCentral article

Overuse of Antipsychotic Medications for Developmental Disorders

A new study finds that antipsychotic medication is often prescribed to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), often in the absence of an accompanying psychiatric diagnosis. Common IDD include Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and autism.

Canadian researchers believe the findings suggest that antipsychotic medications are being used to manage behavioral issues, a practice that is only recommended if other options have failed.

The study was conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and appears in The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

New ‘Teach First’ to train teachers as mental health specialists

UK charity aims to recruit and develop teachers specially to help vulnerable pupils at risk of exclusion.

Alternative providers support children turned away by other schools. They can make the difference between hope and hopelessness, life and death,’ says Kiran Gill, founder of The Difference.

Position statement on children and young peoples' mental health

This intercollegiate statement, produced in conjunction with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, outlines five principles to improve the care and support of children and young people (CYP) with mental health problems. The guidance highlights the need for a shared vision for CYP mental health across all professions and agencies.

• Guidance

Inpatient provision for children and young people with mental health problems

This report examines the state of child and adolescent mental health inpatient services in England. It explores the latest evidence and NHS data on admissions, quality of care, staffing and capacity. It highlights five challenges to raising standards in young people’s mental health provision.

• Report

Causes of severe antisocial behavior may differ for boys and girls

The causes of severe antisocial behaviour may differ between boys and girls, which could pave the way for new sex-specific treatments, according to a major new study published today (Friday 21 July).

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-techniques to map the brains of over 200 teenagers aged 14 -- 18 years, researchers from the University of Bath (UK) and several other European universities conducted the most comprehensive study ever to analyse differences in brain development between children with conduct disorder (CD) and a group of typically-developing children (the control group).

Antidepressant use in pregnancy linked to autism in children

Children exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy seem to be at a slightly higher risk of autism than children of mothers with psychiatric disorders who were not treated with antidepressants during pregnancy, finds a study published in The BMJ.

Rise in children seeking mental health support after terror attacks

The number of children and young people seeking help from mental health services has spiked in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in England, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).

Hospitals across the Manchester region have seen an estimated 10% increase in children seeking help since a bomb ripped through the Manchester Arena on 22 May, killing 22 people, according to the RCP. Mental health experts in Greater Manchester hospitals received hundreds more patients from June to July compared with previous months.

A youth-led approach to exploring mental health

From September 2016 to July 2017, Involve worked with Leaders Unlocked, to deliver a pilot project to engage young people in conversations about mental health in Oldman. It aimed to empower 14-25 year olds to identify the mental health issues that they viewed as most important; engage their peers in exploring these topics; and work with local decision-makers to make recommendations for change. The project report outlines the methodology of the the pilot project and the final evaluation report presents the impacts of the project.

• Evaluation report
• Project report

Suicide by children and young people: National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness.

This report, from the The University of Manchester’s National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCISH) examines the findings from a range of investigations such as coroner inquests, into the deaths by suicide of people aged under 25 between January 2014 and December 2015 in England and Wales, extracting information about the stresses they were facing when they died.

Data was collected from 922 suicides by people aged under 25 in England and Wales during 2014 and 2015. The information came from investigations by official bodies, mainly from coroners, who take evidence from families and professionals.

Childhood psychiatric disorders increase risk for later adult addiction

Children's health and well-being while growing up can be indicators of the potential health issues they may encounter years later. A new study suggests that a childhood psychiatric disorder increases the risk of developing addiction later in life.

Child’s Mental Health Can Influence Adult Addictions

New research suggests that some childhood psychiatric disorders increase the risk of developing addiction later in life. Experts believe the findings emphasize the need for early detection and intervention for childhood mental health issues.

In the study, investigators combined a large amount of data from previous studies (meta-analysis) and discovered a correlation between various psychiatric disorders among children and later risk of developing addictions.

Measuring the number of vulnerable children in England

Children's Commissioner -
This report looks at the scale of vulnerability among children in England. It brings together a range of information held by various government departments, agencies and others. It finds, among other things, that there are 800,000 children suffering from mental health difficulties.

• Report

PTSD in children quickly and effectively treatable within hours

Children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) can be successfully treated with only a few hours of EMDR or cognitive behavioral writing therapy (CBWT). This is the finding of a new research paper by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and GGZ Rivierduinen (Trauma Center for Children and Youth). The paper was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

A healthy state of mind: improving young people’s mental fitness

This report focuses on how to create a mental health system which supports young people earlier and with far greater flexibility than currently exists.  It argues for the reform of the mental health system to provide greater support for the majority of young people who will not receive treatment from specialist CAMHS whilst ensuring that those in urgent need of clinical intervention receive immediate help. 

Secondary school staff get mental health 'first aid' training

From June 2017, teachers in secondary schools around the country will take part in a new training programme to help them identify and respond to early signs of mental health issues in children.

The programme, backed in the first year by £200,000 in government funding, and delivered by the social enterprise Mental Health First Aid, will start with 1,000 staff and extend in years 2 and 3 to cover every secondary school in England. They will receive practical advice on how to deal with issues such as depression and anxiety, suicide and psychosis, self-harm, and eating disorders.

Meeting us where we're at

Excluded and vulnerable young people often experience multiple risk factors for poor mental health, exacerbated by services that are experienced as ‘hard-to-reach’, which can lead to wide health inequalities.

Research consistently demonstrates that people experiencing material, racial and social disadvantage face poorer life chances. These can include risks to their mental health and becoming caught in cycles of offending.

Meeting us where we’re at summarises our evaluation of three pioneering projects in London developed by MAC-UK. The projects use the INTEGRATE approach, characterised by engaging young people through co-designing and co-delivering projects, and by securing referrals through peers.

A Healthy State of Mind: improving young people's mental fitness

Localis, an independent cross-party think tank, has launched a new report on young people’s mental health. The report aims to identify what the system requires to be able to work better to both offer immediate help to those with serious conditions and a wide and flexible variety of support for all those who feel they need it.

This was carried out with data obtained from Freedom of Information requests to CCGs and Foundation Trusts in England; interviews with experts in the field; roundtables of NHS and local government leaders; and focus groups with young people themselves. The Children’s Society and NSPCC also contributed as members of an advisory panel.

Neuroimaging technique may help predict autism among high-risk infants

Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) may predict which high-risk, 6-month old infants will develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by age 2 years, according to a study funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), two components of the National Institutes of Health. The study is published in the June 7, 2017, issue of Science Translational Medicine.

Introduction of the pioneering Clinical Lead Nurse in Mental Health

In 2016 Children’s, Women’s, Diagnostic and Division at UHNM made a significant change in their practice by employing a Clinical Lead Nurse in Mental Health, this post was designed to create and sustain significant changes to mental health care within an acute hospital with a specific aim on improving Child and Adolescent mental health and Perinatal mental health.