Science
**‘Mind the Kids’: an ACAMH podcast**

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.

Latest Episodes:

S4 Ep4: Mind the Kids - Does minor aggression have a major impact? Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode ‘Does minor aggression have a major impact?’ we confront a sensitive but crucial area: the effects of intimate partner violence and aggressionon children.
Dr. Jane Gilmour and Professor Umar Toseeb are joined by Dr. Hedwig Eisenbarth from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, the lead author of the paper The Impact of Less Severe Intimate Partner Aggression on Child Conduct Problems, published in JCPP Advances. This paper focuses on lower levels of violence, so they use phrases like ‘minor’ or ‘less severe’. This phraseology, of course, does not imply that they are considered acceptable.
They explore how attachment theory, social learning, and even genetic factors may intersect with a child’s experience of aggression in the home. The discussion covers the importance of the home environment, the need for intervention, and the complex challenge of studying these behaviours across different cultures.
More information

Read the Open Access paper from JCPP Advances ‘The impact of less severe intimate partner aggression on child conduct problems’

Hedwig Eisenbarth, Karina Clavijo Saldias, Paul E. Jose, Johannes A. Karl, Karen E. Waldie
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70024

S4 Ep3: Mind the Kids - Neurotypes, Genotypes, and Phenotypes Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

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

S4 Ep2: Mind the Kids - Income(ing): Poverty and Resilience Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

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.

S4 Ep1: Mind the Kids - Rebooting the Great Psychotherapy Debate Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

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

S3 Ep11: Mind the Kids - More Than Money: Nudging Parents, Breaking Barriers, Transforming Futures Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

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

S3 Ep10: Mind the Kids: Home fae Home: Hot Chocolate Helping Trauma Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

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

S3 Ep9: Mind the Kids - Diagnosis with Heart: The Promise and Challenges of SDA Tools Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

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.

S3 Ep8: Mind the Kids - Navigating Early Risk: How Kindergarten Shapes Childhood Outcomes Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Imagine a child stepping into their first classroom, carrying with them a world shaped by family stress, poverty, or developmental challenges. What happens next is more than a story of struggle—it’s a story of hope, resilience, and the powerful impact of everyday relationships.
Welcome to the Mind The Kids podcast series. Today’s episode, ‘Navigating Early Risk How Kindergarten Shapes Childhood Outcomes’, explores how early childhood risks such as poverty, family stress, and developmental delays influence children’s outcomes in school, and how positive experiences in kindergarten can protect children as they grow older.
Your host Mark Tebbs —a lifelong advocate for mental health and currently Chief Executive of a leading charity focused on community wellbeing. In this episode Mark is joined by Dr. Katharina Haag, senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, to discuss her recent paper published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JCPP), “Navigating Early Risk: Differential Outcomes in Middle Childhood and the Compensatory Role of Kindergarten Experiences”. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcpp.14158

As Dr. Haag explains: “We know that close relationships with teachers, and social play in kindergarten, were linked to better outcomes across the board, regardless of the child’s risk profile.” Mark and Katharina reflect on what Norway’s universal, high-quality kindergarten system means for other countries grappling with unequal access and persistent childhood inequalities. Mark asks the questions every parent and policymaker has wondered: Can early education truly level the playing field? What does it take to translate hope into lasting change? And, most importantly, what practical lessons can be applied wherever children grow up?
Whether a parent, teacher, or mental health professional, listeners leave with a sense of possibility—and a call to remember that small moments of support can change the trajectory of a child’s life. If you enjoy what you hear, please leave a review or share the episode to help spread evidence-based insights in child and adolescent mental health.

S3 Ep7: Mind the Kids - When Sleep & Anxiety Collide Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

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.

S3 Ep6: Mind the Kids - Behind the Tears: The Surprising Role of Genetics in Infant Crying Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

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

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‘Mind the Kids’: an ACAMH podcast

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

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