Environmental influences
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What are the most important life events for teens
Most adolescents and young adults identify positive, everyday milestones—such as education, relationships and growing independence—as the most important events in their lives, rather than crises. However, those with higher anxiety and depression are more likely to emphasise stressful experiences and interpersonal difficulties, highlighting how mental health shapes the way life events are perceived. Blog by David Bürgin on his recent paper.
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Trauma in Care Experienced Children: Improving Access to Trauma-Informed Care
Care experienced children and young people are much more likely to experience trauma and trauma-related mental health difficulties than their peers. Yet many do not receive timely support or access to treatments that are backed by evidence. Recent research highlights that the challenge is not simply identifying distress but ensuring that care-experienced children can access effective interventions, particularly trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapies (TF-CBTs). In this blog, we explore these barriers, as well as what effective trauma-informed care could look like. Blog by Professor Francisco Musich.
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Autism Assessment Across the Lifespan: Diagnosis, Clinical Challenges, and Measuring Change
As awareness grows and more individuals seek assessment later in life, demand is increasing for clinicians to develop expertise in autism diagnosis across the lifespan, including nuanced understanding of gender differences in autism, cultural influences, and late or adult diagnosis pathways. Join us at this advanced masterclass with world-renowned expert Professor Catherine Lord.
- Event type
- Masterclass
- Location
- Online
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Trauma and Autism: How It Affects Children and Young People
Autistic children and young people are more likely to experience adversity and traumatic events than their non-autistic peers. Yet, trauma is often missed in autism. Why? Professor Francisco Musich explains.
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Meet the expert: Emotion Regulation with Dr. Alessio Bellato
In November, ACAMH will host a two-part short course Assessment Tools and Interventions for Emotion (Dys)Regulation: Practical Approaches. We caught up with the course leader – Dr. Alessio Bellato, Lecturer in Children and Young People’s Mental Health at the University of Southampton – about the topic itself, his career, and his hopes for the event.
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The Teenage Brain: Social Sensitivity, Risk-Taking, and What It Means for Practice
Explore how teenage brain development shapes social sensitivity, peer influence and risk-taking, with practical insights for clinicians and educators. Blog by Professor Francisco Musich
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OCD and BDD in young people: rethinking causes and access
Rethinking childhood OCD causes (genetics over infections), BDD self-harm risks in teens, and internet CBT access solutions for clinicians and families. ‘Reflections from the room’ from our webinar ‘OCD; An update on OCD and related disorders in children and young people’, led by Professor David Mataix-Cols
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Adolescent school transition: How moving school impacts teenage wellbeing
Discover how primary to secondary school transition can affect adolescent wellbeing, anxiety, belonging, and motivation, and explore ways schools can support students through change.
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Meet the expert: Co-occurring conditions in children with intellectual disabilities, with Dr. Ashley Liew
On 11 and 18 June 2026, ACAMH will host a short course Assessment and Management of Intellectual Disability and Co-occurring Conditions. We caught up with one of the speakers, Dr. Ashley Liew, Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychiatrist at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, about the topic, the state of the field, and what attendees can expect.
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Meet the expert: Intergenerational consequences of racism, with Dr. Yasmin Ahmadzadeh
On 9 June 2026, ACAMH’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Special Interest Group will hold its next meeting, Intergenerational Consequences of Racism. We caught up with the presenter – Dr. Yasmin Ahmadzadeh, a Research Fellow at King’s College London whose work focuses on how mental health runs in families – about her research, and her hopes for the event.
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