'Mind the Kids': an ACAMH podcast

• S4 Ep2: Mind the Kids - Neurotypes, Genotypes, and Phenotypes

  Welcome to "Mind the Kids," where stories, science, and lived experience collide to shed light on the mysteries of child development. What if the answer to why some children struggle with attention or language isn’t just written in their DNA, but also shaped by the world their parents create? In this episode, “Neurotypes, Genotypes and Phenotypes,” our hosts Professor Umar Toseeb and Dr. Jane Gilmour invite Dr. Laura Hegemann to talk about her JCPP paper ‘Direct and indirect genetic effects on early neurodevelopmental traits’ and the wider implications of the topic. Laura unravels why understanding genetic influences isn’t about fate or fatalism; it’s a nuanced story of possibility, risk, and hope. Her research offers powerful new insights: the mix of direct genetic effects and subtle environmental influences, and why “knowledge is power” for clinicians and parents trying to support neurodiverse children. You’ll hear candid reflections on why communicating these findings is fraught with risks and responsibilities—and stories of families who find both challenge and strength in their inherited traits. As you listen, expect real talk: about how early intervention makes a difference, why neurodevelopmental traits can be both a challenge and a gift, and how science can help us support—not stigmatise—those on different developmental paths.  This isn’t just another academic debate; it’s a conversation about how research shapes practice and lives. So settle in for a journey through dilemmas, discoveries, and transformative moments in child behavioural genetics. The story starts here. More information: From the JCPP paper ‘Direct and indirect genetic effects on early neurodevelopmental traits’ Laura Hegemann, Espen Eilertsen, Johanne Hagen Pettersen, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Rosa Cheesman, Leonard Frach, Ludvig Daae Bjørndal, Helga Ask, Beate St Pourcain, Alexandra Havdahl, Laurie J. Hannigan https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14122

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• S4 Ep2: Mind the Kids - Income(ing): Poverty and Resilience

  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.

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• S4 Ep1: Mind the Kids - Rebooting the Great Psychotherapy Debate

  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

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• S3 Ep11: Mind the Kids - More Than Money: Nudging Parents, Breaking Barriers, Transforming Futures

  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

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• S3 Ep10: Mind the Kids: Home fae Home: Hot Chocolate Helping Trauma

  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

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