Association for Child & Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH)

What does current research tell us about the adolescent brain, and how can it inform the way we work with young people? Drawing on work from the Blakemore Lab at the University of Cambridge, with contributions from its lead Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, this interactive online workshop session will explore the cognitive and emotional processes shaping adolescent behaviour. 📆 8 July 2026 2pm UK Through a combination of scientific insights and interactive activities, participants will develop a clearer understanding of how these processes play out in real-world settings, and what this means for everyday practice. Book now to attend: https://bit.ly/48vAziL #AdolescentBrain #Brain #CognitiveProcesses #EmotionalProcesses #Psychiatry #Psychology #CAMH #CAMHS #Wellbeing #ChildMentalHealth #AdolescentMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness

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. https://bit.ly/4nKu8if #Trauma #Neurodivergent #ADHD #Autism #CAMH #CAMHS #Science #Wellbeing #Research #ChildMentalHealth #ChildWellbeing #MentalHealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #Psychology #Psychiatry #Medicine

One common assumption is that ARFID in autistic young people is primarily driven by sensory issues. But is that correct? On 22 June 2026, ACAMH will host "ARFID in Autistic Young People: Assessment, Overlap and Practical Clinical Management" - a three-hour online event bringing together leading experts to explore assessment, differential diagnosis, and formulation in this high-risk clinical group. We caught up with one of the presenters – Dr. Rachel Bryant-Waugh, an eating disorders clinician and researcher based at the Maudsley Hospital and King’s College London – about the topic itself, her career, and her hopes for the event. Read the full Q&A here: https://bit.ly/4vEv1MY Plus secure your spot at this fantastic webinar: https://bit.ly/3Pf4IMA #ARFID #Autistic #Autism #CYPMentalHealth #MentalHealth #CAMH #CAMHS #Science #MentalHealthAwareness #Psychology #Psychiatry #AvoidantRestrictiveFoodIntakeDisorder

Are we thinking about youth mental health in the right way? We are delighted to announce the release of the 2026 Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry (JCPP) Annual Research Review ‘“Have you seen me lately” ‐ Revisiting our understanding of significant mental health disorders for children and adolescents’, edited by Daniel S. Shaw. This thought-provoking Annual Research Review revisits long-held assumptions and explores how our understanding is evolving — and why it matters for research, policy, and practice. Read more 👇 https://bit.ly/4uqyDRf #MentalHealth #AnnualResearchReview #Psychology #Psychiatry #Medicine #AcademicPublishing #Science #Research #CAMH #CYPMentalHealth #ChildMentalHealth

This ACAMH Learn presentation, led by Dr Asha Patel, explores the evidence base underpinning trauma-informed approaches and their vital role in supporting healing among children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Dr Patel introduces practical frameworks and insights from the Healing Together programme—an evidence-based intervention designed to help children and families process their experiences of domestic abuse in safe, supportive environments. The presentation also guides commissioners and frontline practitioners on how to embed trauma-informed principles within their systems and services. Watch now to learn more. https://bit.ly/4d5zsrK #CAMH #CAMHS #Science #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #Psychology #Psychiatry #ACAMHLearn #WatchLearnLike #DomesticAbuse #TraumaInformedPractice #ACEs #AdverseChildhoodExperiences

Missed the webinar on OCD and related disorders in young people, led by Prof. David Mataix-Cols? Catch up with our blog, “OCD and BDD in young people: rethinking causes and access,” where we reflect on insights from the session. "The next major gains may not come from entirely new treatments. They may come from getting better at recognising vulnerability, asking better questions, and making effective care easier to reach." Read the full blog to learn more. https://bit.ly/48TvmSq #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #healthcare #mentalhealthsupport #mentalwellbeing #camh #camhs #mentalhealthmatters #CYPMentalHealth #OCD #BDD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BodyDysmorphicDisorder

Teachers, parents, clinicians, and school professionals all play a role in supporting students with ADHD. Collaboration is key to helping every child thrive. On 7 July 2026, ACAMH will host a webinar "ADHD in the Classroom: Accommodations and Behavioural Supports". We caught up with the presenter – Associate Professor Erin Schoenfelder Gonzalez, a clinical psychologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital – about the topic itself and her hopes for the event. Read the full Q&A to learn more: https://bit.ly/4sMgJHz Plus, register now to attend the webinar: https://bit.ly/4bwcMQz #ADHD #EdPsych #EducationalPsychology #Teacher #Teachers #School #Education #CAMH #CAMHS #Science #Evidence #Research #MentalHealth #CYPMentalHealth #ChildMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters

Standardised diagnostic assessment (SDA) tools are increasingly positioned as central to structured mental health evaluation, shaping how clinicians identify and formulate disorder in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). In this talk, Sue Fen Tan and Salah Basheer examine the role of SDAs within contemporary diagnostic practice, focusing on how commonly used tools organise clinical reasoning, influence referral pathways, and delimit treatment planning. https://bit.ly/42WOStH #CAMH #CAMHS #Science #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #Psychology #Psychiatry #ACAMHLearn #WatchLearnLike #MentalHealthAwareness #SDA #StandardisedDiagnosticAssessment

As primary to secondary school transitions coincide with early adolescence, they can influence an important second window of development. Therefore, a teenager’s experiences during this key time can have long-lasting effects on their later development and well-being, and these effects can even extend into adulthood. Discover how primary to secondary school transition can affect adolescent wellbeing, anxiety, belonging, and motivation, and explore ways schools can support students through change. Blog by Mason Mi Zhou. https://bit.ly/3RrMTuM #PrimarySchool #SecondarySchool #SchoolTransitions #EdPsych #EducationalPsychology #EducationalPsychologist #CAMH #CAMHS #Psychology #Psychiatry #Science #Evidence #Research #Wellbeing #Anxiety #Motivation #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters

Why do we focus so much on what goes wrong in childhood and not enough on what helps young people thrive? In this Mind the Kids episode, Dr. Jamie Hanson talks to hosts Dr. Jane Gilmour and Prof Umar Toseeb, about how early life adversity, positive affect, and internalizing difficulties like anxiety and depression are connected over time, using data from the large ABCD cohort in the United States. 🎧 Discover what helps protect mental health over time. https://bit.ly/4dndemi #CAMH #CAMHS #Psychology #Psychiatry #Wellbeing #Science #Evidence #Research #MentalHealth #CYPMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #ListenLearnLike #MindTheKids