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ACAMH Awards Longlist: Spotlight on Excellence in Research and Practice
The ACAMH Awards aim to recognise high quality work in evidence-based science, both in publication and practice, in the field of child and adolescent mental health. Congratulations to the longlist nominees.
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Meet the expert on mentalising – Dr. Emma Morris
Discover how mentalising therapy supports children and families facing complex trauma. Join Emma Morris at the ACAMH workshop on 14 October 2026.
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EBSA in young people: complexity, pressure, and the value of slowing down
When a child stops going to school, the wish to help them back quickly is easy to understand. Emotionally based school avoidance rarely has a single cause, though, and the pace of a response can matter as much as its content. One thought runs through what follows: that slowing down can sometimes do more for a child than any effort to hurry a return.
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Mental Health and School Achievement: Why Gender and Age at Onset Matter
Discover how mental health conditions impact school performance in children and adolescents. Explore research on over 837,000 young people, highlighting the effects of anxiety, depression, gender differences, and age of onset on academic achievement—and why early support matters.
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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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#GiveToGain: Recognising and Supporting Women in the Mental Health Workforce
Each year, International Women’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect on how women contribute to, shape, and sustain the systems around them. The theme for 2026, #GiveToGain, centres on the idea that when people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. In child and adolescent mental health (CAMH), this theme resonates strongly.
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Meet the expert: Pediatric Bipolar Disorder with Professor Dr. Boris Birmaher
On 24 April 2026, ACAMH will host a webinar Navigating Diagnostic Challenges in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder. We caught up with the presenter – Dr. Boris Birmaher, Endowed Chair in Bipolar Disease and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – about the topic itself, his career, and his hopes for the event.
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What Is Autism Now?
Autism was first described as a clinical condition in the mid-twentieth century and was long considered of low prevalence. Since the 1990s, autism prevalence has increased substantially, particularly in high-income countries. This rise has prompted public and professional debate, including concerns of over-diagnosis and suggestions of an “autism epidemic.” Current research and conceptual analysis suggest that these interpretations are not supported by the available evidence. Instead, changes in diagnostic practices, alongside shifts in social, educational, and economic environments, have reshaped how autism is recognised and understood.
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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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