'Mind the Kids': an ACAMH podcast

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

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 for a host of free evidence-based mental health resources.

  1. 3d ago

    Problem eating in a community sample, the thin end of a wedge. A 'Mind The Kids' Podcast

    This episode of the Mind the Kids podcast is called "Problem Eating in a Community Sample: The Thin End of a Wedge." Hosts Dr. Jane Gilmour, honorary consultant clinical psychologist and Child Development Programme Director at UCL, and Professor Umar Toseeb, Professor of Psychology at the University of York specialising in children and young people's mental health and special educational needs, are joined by Dr. Clara Faria from the University of Cambridge to discuss eating difficulties and eating disorders in young people. Dr. Faria is the lead author of "The Prevalence of Eating Difficulties in Children and Young People in England: A Large, Cross-Sectional School Survey," published in JCPP Advances, one of ACAMH's journals. Drawing on 2023 data from the OxWell Student Survey — a large school-based survey led by Professor Mina Fazel — the study found that eating difficulties are common among secondary school students, with a weighted prevalence of 62.5% reporting at least one type of eating difficulty. Using the DAWBA screening items, the most endorsed difficulty was believing you were fat when others said you were thin (47.3%), while the least endorsed, but still striking, was self-induced vomiting (17.7%). The conversation explores:- The difference between disordered eating, problem eating, and clinically diagnosable eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), OSFED, and binge eating disorder- What the evidence says about the transition from disordered eating to a diagnosable eating disorder, including longitudinal and twin-study findings on body dissatisfaction and gender differences in risk- Whether eating disorders sit within an internalising or externalising framework, and why binge eating disorder may not fit neatly into either- The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on eating difficulties, body image, and screen time among young people- What schools and clinicians can learn from family-based treatment and non-judgmental approaches such as the Body Project when supporting young people with problematic eating This episode is essential listening for child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, researchers, educators, and school staff interested in youth mental health, eating disorders, body image, and evidence-based approaches to supporting young people with problem eating. 📄 Read the full paper, published in JCPP Advances: The prevalence of eating difficulties in children and young people in England: A large, cross-sectional school surveyClara Faria, The OxWell Study Team, Mina Fazel, Emma Soneson, Tamsin J. Ford, Simon Whitehttps://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70111 Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://bit.ly/4fF4BBW Visit https://www.acamh.orgFacebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMHInstagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camhBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.socialX https://x.com/acamh 🎧 Subscribe to Mind the Kids for more conversations with leading researchers and clinicians on child and adolescent mental health, evidence-based interventions, and the latest findings shaping youth mental health care. #MindTheKids #EatingDisorders #ChildMentalHealth #AdolescentMentalHealth #BodyImage #YouthMentalHealth #EatingDisorderAwareness #ACAMH #MentalHealthResearch

    Problem eating in a community sample, the thin end of a wedge. A 'Mind The Kids' Podcast
  2. Sep 9

    Poverty, Policy, and Politics. A Mind the Kids podcast

    How does research actually change government policy? In this episode of Mind the Kids, hosts Dr Jane Gilmour (UCL) and Professor Umar Toseeb (University of York) sit down with Baroness Ruth Lister — Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Loughborough University, Fellow of the British Academy, and a Labour peer in the House of Lords — to unpack how evidence, political will and public appetite combine (or collide) to shape social policy for children living in poverty. This conversation goes behind the headlines of the UK's child poverty strategy, including the abolition of the two-child benefit limit from April 2026 — a change expected to be the single biggest reduction in child poverty any UK government has delivered at a stroke, after CPAG research linked the policy to roughly 109 children entering poverty every day. In this episode we cover:– How the House of Lords scrutinises legislation, and Baroness Lister's role as a backbench "critical friend"– Why politicians cherry-pick evidence — and when evidence gets overridden by ideology or public appetite– The real story behind scrapping the two-child benefit limit, and why the benefit cap remains in place despite similar evidence of harm– Why UK child poverty sits at 27% (down from around 30% following a measurement change) and what's really driving it — frozen benefits, insecure work, and rising housing costs– The civil service vs. ministers vs. MPs: who academics should really be talking to for policy impact– Why "child poverty," not "family poverty," was the deliberately chosen framing that built public support– The power of lived experience in policymaking, including the Changing Realities project and the Timms PIP review– Interpersonal relationships and community interventions as a positive, low-cost buffer against the harms of poverty– Why child poverty is a mental health issue — and how squeezed welfare budgets often resurface as pressure on CAMHS and schools Whether you're a researcher trying to translate evidence into real-world impact, a clinician working with families affected by poverty, or simply want to understand how policy really gets made in Westminster, this episode is essential listening. Mind the Kids is brought to you by ACAMH (Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health), translating the latest child and adolescent mental health research into evidence-based conversation. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on child development, social policy, and the evidence shaping child and adolescent mental health. Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://bit.ly/4fF4BBWVisit https://www.acamh.orgFacebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMHInstagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camhBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.socialX https://x.com/acamh

    Poverty, Policy, and Politics. A Mind the Kids podcast
  3. Sep 4

    ADHD; Risk, Reward and the Teenage Brain. An 'Inside the Teen Brain' podcast.

    Watch the interview on ACAMH Learn at https://bit.ly/ADHD-Teen-Brain and get a free CPD/CME certificate by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://bit.ly/4fF4BBW In this conversation, Dr. Jane Gilmour and Professor Susan Young explore what it means to understand ADHD through the lens of the teenage brain. Adolescence is a period of rapid change, marked by increased risk-taking, emotional intensity, and a drive for novelty—characteristics that are also central to ADHD. She considers what happens when these developmental processes intersect, and how to distinguish between what is typical, what is neurodivergent, and what may be misunderstood. Professor Young reflects on how ADHD presents and evolves across adolescence and into young adulthood, challenging dominant narratives, including debates around overdiagnosis and late identification. She also examines more complex and often overlooked issues in practice, such as the relationship between ADHD and trauma, risk-taking behaviours including substance use, and pathways into the criminal justice system. The discussion moves beyond theory to consider what works in practice, including how clinicians can better engage young people in evidence-based interventions such as CBT, and what practical changes can make a meaningful difference. Overall, this conversation brings together research, clinical experience, and real-world challenges to better understand and support neurodivergent young people. Learning ObjectivesA. To understand ADHD through the lens of adolescent developmentB. To recognise areas of debate and uncertainty in ADHD (e.g. diagnosis, trauma, risk)C. To identify practical approaches to supporting and engaging young people Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://bit.ly/4fF4BBWVisit https://www.acamh.orgFacebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMHInstagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camhBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.socialX https://x.com/acamh

    ADHD; Risk, Reward and the Teenage Brain. An 'Inside the Teen Brain' podcast.
  4. Sep 2

    How smart is a phone ban? A Mind the Kids podcast

    Listen to the pod and take this 30 second survey to help us improve https://york.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5gNKGPMVAHdQS6a How smart is a phone ban, really? With the UK's under-16s social media ban confirmed for spring 2027 and mobile phones now expected to be banned from every English school day by default, this episode of Mind the Kids tackles one of the biggest parenting and policy debates of our time: what does the evidence actually say about smartphones, social media and children's mental health? Hosts Dr. Jane Gilmour (Honorary consultant clinical psychologist and child development programme director at UCL) and Professor Umar Toseeb (Professor of Psychology at the University of York) are joined by Professor Lisa Henderson from the University of York, author of two Child and Adolescent Mental Health Journal papers: "Digital Safeguarding Incidents in Schools With and Without Smartphone Policies" and "Innovations in Practice: A Pilot Randomised Trial on Smartphone and Social Media Abstinence." In this episode we unpack:– What the UK's social media ban for under-16s actually means for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat– Why comparing the UK ban to Australia's isn't a fair like-for-like comparison– New pilot RCT data on smartphone and social media abstinence, sleep quality and wellbeing in adolescents– What happens to digital safeguarding incident reporting when schools introduce phone policies– The "lost generation" risk — teens already embedded in social platforms navigating an abrupt policy shift– Why parental phone habits predict children's smartphone use– The "Goldilocks" amount of social media time, and why moderate use isn't the enemy If you work in education, child psychology, safeguarding, or you're a parent trying to make sense of the smartphone ban headlines, this conversation goes well beyond the soundbites. Mind the Kids is brought to you by ACAMH (Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health), translating the latest child and adolescent mental health research into evidence-based conversation. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes on child development, adolescent mental health, and the research shaping child psychology practice. Read the JCPP paper ‘Digital safeguarding incidents in schools with and without smartphone policies: a cross-sectional study in England'https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.70079Emma Sullivan, Rob Dallison, Pete Montgomery, Lisa HendersonFirst published: 11 March 2026 Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://bit.ly/4fF4BBWDon't miss our webinar debate 'Regulating Social Media Use in Children and Young People – Are bans justified?' This 1.5-hour online debate brings together leading experts to examine whether age-based social media bans are an appropriate policy response to concerns about children and young people’s mental health.Visit https://www.acamh.orgFacebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMHInstagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camhBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.socialX https://x.com/acamh

    How smart is a phone ban? A Mind the Kids podcast
  5. Aug 26

    ADHD and Emotional Regulation. A 'Mind the Kids' podcast

    Please email ppls.adhdstudy@ed.ac.uk if you would like to learn more. Why do so many young people with ADHD find it harder to bounce back from difficult emotions — and what can actually help? This episode of the Mind the Kids podcast features Professor Aja Murray, Professor of Developmental Psychology of Mental Health at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. Aja's research examines mental health across the lifespan, with a particular focus on the links between ADHD symptoms and co-occurring mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, especially during adolescence. Hosted by Mark Tebbs, the conversation explores the Mental Health in the Moment ADHD (MHIM-ADHD) programme of research, funded by the Medical Research Foundation, conducted with colleagues including Dejla Hoxha, Daria Melashenko, and Amanda Russell at the University of Edinburgh, alongside guidance from the project's young person and lived-experience advisory group. The discussion opens by unpacking two key terms: ADHD, characterised by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and diagnosed in up to around 8% of children and adolescents globally, and emotion dysregulation, the breakdown of the processes people use to identify, manage and respond to their emotions. Aja explains how emotion dysregulation, while not a core symptom of ADHD, is a commonly associated feature that can show up as intense or changeable emotions, emotions that take longer to settle, or emotionally driven behaviour such as lashing out. Drawing on ecological momentary assessment methods that capture emotion regulation as it unfolds in daily life, alongside longitudinal data, Aja shares findings on how emotion dysregulation sits on the pathway between ADHD symptoms and elevated risk of anxiety and depression, and how patterns like rumination are a particularly important feature of this pathway. The conversation also explores rejection sensitivity dysphoria — the tendency to anxiously or angrily anticipate social rejection — a concept gaining significant attention within the ADHD community. The project's lived-experience advisory group specifically recommended including a measure of rejection sensitivity, informed by broader work on co-producing adolescent mental health research with young people (Health Expectations). Findings show rejection sensitivity dysphoria is linked to more negative emotions day to day, but that positive peer interactions can buffer this effect, pointing to peer acceptance as a promising avenue for support. Aja also sets out practical, evidence-based strategies for adolescents with ADHD and the adults who support them, including cognitive reappraisal, techniques for interrupting rumination, acceptance, square breathing, and the "grounding" 5-4-3-2-1 technique. The conversation covers the crucial role of parents and caregivers in modelling emotion regulation, understanding how the ADHD brain processes emotion, and responding supportively rather than dismissively to emotional expression — plus a look at positive emotion regulation, including noticing, savouring and sharing good moments. Aja closes with an update on the team's emerging work on teacher relationships, autistic traits, and a co-produced digital emotion regulation app for adolescents with ADHD. This conversation is essential listening for clinicians, researchers, educators, and parents and caregivers interested in child and adolescent mental health, ADHD, emotion regulation, and rejection sensitivity dysphoria. It offers a clear, hopeful message: emotion regulation is a skill that can be learned, practised, and strengthened over time. Learn more about the MHIM-ADHD study protocol: 'Illuminating the daily life experiences of adolescents with and without ADHD: protocol for an ecological momentary assessment study', Aja Murray, Lydia Speyer, Melissa Thye, et al. BMJ Open, published 29 September 2023. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077222 Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://bit.ly/4fF4BBWDon't miss our webinar on 04/11/26 Led by leading expert Dr. Alessio Bellato 'Assessment Tools and Interventions for Emotion (Dys)Regulation: Practical Approaches'. Emotion regulation is a key skill for well-being, yet individuals, particularly those who are neurodivergent, may experience unique challenges in managing emotions in daily life. This two-part short course provides a practical approach to understanding, assessing, and providing personalised support across diverse populations. Visit https://www.acamh.orgFacebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMHInstagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camhBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.socialX https://x.com/acamh

    ADHD and Emotional Regulation. A 'Mind the Kids' podcast

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

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 for a host of free evidence-based mental health resources.