Environmental influences

  • Beyond ACEs: When Trauma-Informed Care Misses Neurodivergent Children

    Trauma-informed care often overlooks neurodivergence, leading to missed diagnoses and support, as in James’ story. Research shows trauma, neurodevelopmental conditions and adversity frequently co-occur, with “double jeopardy” when both are present. Services must move beyond silos to holistic, person-centred assessment that recognises each child’s unique “make and model.”. Blog by Professor Helen Minnis (pic) and Dr. Ruchika Gajwani.

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  • early bird

    Early Bird webinar offers for 2026

    In 2026 we are offering a rich programme of research-informed webinars centred on improving evidence-based practice across youth mental health, ALL WITH EARLY BIRDS!

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  • 3 brother walking away

    Siblings and the Family

    This FREE webinar explores the often-overlooked experiences of siblings of children and young people with mental health conditions. Speakers will present new research, intervention adaptation, and service perspectives, highlighting risk and protective factors, effective supports, and the vital role siblings play in both family wellbeing and shaping mental health services.

    Event type
    Round table
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • Sarah Halligan

    The role of socio-contextual factors in child and adolescent PTSD

    ‘The role of socio-contextual factors in child and adolescent PTSD’ is a webinar is organised by ACAMH’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Special Interest Group. It is led by Professor Sarah Halligan is Professor of Child and Family Mental Health at the University of Bath.

    Event type
    ACEs SIG Monthly seminars
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • Young woman giving hug to her cute little son with brown soft teddybear while both sitting on sleeping place prepared for refugees

    Families and Children in Wartime Ukraine: Prelude to an Online Course on Families in Context of War and Social Conflict Through the Lens of Attachment

    For practitioners and policymakers, it is important to realise that the extraordinarily high levels of parental burnout signal serious mental health challenges ahead, even well beyond the end of the war.

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  • Candice Odgers

    Parenting and Protecting Adolescents in the Age of Social Media and AI

    Adolescents spend much of their lives online and adults are increasingly worried that screen time, social media, and now artificial intelligence (AI) will harm their mental health. Award winning psychologist Candice Odgers will address current fears with facts about adolescent mental health in the digital age and provide science-backed strategies for those working to support the young people in their families, classrooms, and communities.

    Event type
    Talk with Q&A
    Location
    Online
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  • Portrait of son hugging his father, together at home. Son caring for his father, putting hand on his shoulder, comforting and consoling him. Family love, bonding, care and confidence

    Social Fears in Children: The Roles of Parental Communication and Child Temperament

    A recent longitudinal study by Zeytinoglu and colleagues (2025) provides insights into how parental verbal communication and child characteristics contribute to the transmission of social fears. The study shows the impact of both positive and negative maternal statements about ambiguous social situations, finding that positive comments were linked to reductions in children’s social fear beliefs, while negative comments predicted increases, especially among children who were behaviourally inhibited or had high anxiety.

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  • Full length portrait of African American single father and smiling son using tablet and chatting sitting on floor in harsh sunlight copy space

    Understanding How Parenting Programs Work: Key Behaviour Changes and Individual Differences in Outcomes

    A 2025 study by Sigurðardóttir and colleagues brings together findings from 14 European randomized controlled trials with 3,252 families, all evaluating social learning-based parenting programmes. The study examined in detail how these programmes can support the reduction of disruptive behaviours in children.

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  • Cute brilliant smart child of african american ethnicity study at home, doing homework, sitting on floor with book in hands smiling at camera with enthusiasm, happy to get new knowledge

    Children and Adolescents with Single and Multiple Traumas Response to PTSD Therapy: New Insights from a Major Meta-Analysis

    A 2023 meta-analysis led by Hoppen and colleagues examined whether children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) benefit equally from psychological interventions, regardless of whether they have experienced a single traumatic event or multiple traumas (Hoppen et al., 2023).

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  • Caucasian teenager chats in messaging app with friends or watches content using mobile phone while sitting on sofa in living room. Teen boy spending weekend at home. Lifestyle concept. Close Up.

    Adolescence at Risk: Online Misogyny, Mental Health, and the Urgent Need for Action

    What is online misogyny? How do adolescent boys engage with the Manosphere? What are the implications for policy and practice? Dr. Arianda Albajara Saenz explores it’s impact on youth mental health.

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