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Getting started - opening a dialogue with young people
Jude Sellen
This article is about a project that set out to talk to young people from black and ethnic minority communities about their mental health needs. Young people were involved in the planning, and carrying out the survey. They sent out invitations for a music event at the Brixton Academy. Of the 750 young people who turned up, 141 volunteered to answer the questionnaire. They found that both young men and women shared negative associations with the term mental health.
Behind closed doors - living with a parent's mental illness
Clare Armstrong
This article looks at the experiences of young people who live with a parent who has a mental health problem. It focuses on the evaluation of a young carers project set up by the Glasgow Association for Mental Health. It was set up to enable young people to pursue normal childhood interests and experiences. The evaluation was qualitative, with the aim of gathering a wide range of views and information from the young people.
Breaking barriers - a stategy for lasting change
Catherine Wilson
This article is based on the Youth Access strategy for youth information, advice and counselling services (YIAC) ‘Breaking Down the Barriers’. The work was funded by the Department of Health and set out to examine the mental health needs of 16-25 year olds, and assesses whether there is adequate counselling provision available for this age group.
Classroom drama - acting for emotional literacy
Pat Day
This article is about the Sheffield-based Taking Care project. It adopted a whole school approach to enhancing children's emotional well-being. They ran a 10-week programme based on circle time and drama, which was based in seven Sheffield primary schools. They tackled emotional literacy, but they also looked at the impact of bullying and violence on children’s lives. An evaluation of the project found that it increased the children’s ability to understand and express feelings. Also, teachers noticed an improvement in the behaviour of some children.
Excellence in Essex
Tracey Maher
This article looks at the Brookside adolescent mental health service, based in Essex. It covers the history, and the current services provided by Brookside.
Out of Court
Tessa Oakley
This article looks at the fact that a school is free to decide on how it implements an anti-bullying policy, and this makes the monitoring of schools difficult. The author also looks at to what extent schools can be held accountable for bullying. It includes reference to a recent case where a court ruled that a school could not be held responsible for the bullying suffered by two former pupils.
Opinion: Opportunity knocks?
Lee Miller
The author comments on typical reactions to the announcement by the Health Secretary of an extra £140 for CAMHS and the piloting of Children’s Trusts. He acknowledges the difficulties that multi-agency working pose, but sees the announcement as potentially providing well needed resources and a means of helping to facilitate joint working.
Review: All about Lily Chou-Chou
Imogen Le Patourel
This film is about a pop star who connects with the lives of Japanese teenagers, and whose music is their soundtrack and refuge from the turmoil of growing up.
Review: Beat bullying
Helen Cowe
The focus of this book is on strategies and techniques for overcoming threatening behaviour, and ways that promote safety in residential and foster care. There are exercises, case studies and discussion points. It is designed for people who work with looked after children.
Review: Disordered mind and brain
Dr Don Batten
Looks at the organic basis to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar affective disorder and psychopathy.
Review: Dog bark
Carole Satyamurti
This book is the outcome of the interaction between pupils at the Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School (part of a psychiatric hospital) and their teachers. Many of the writers are troubled young people, some are teachers. Some of the poems are dark and about death, others are witty and imaginative. The book conveys that life can not be lived as one would like, but it can get better.
Review: Everything you ever wanted to ask about willies and other boys' bits
Sean Sabbage
This book includes sections on body facts, problem pages and comments from boys who have gone through puberty. Chapters include puberty, body maintenance, emotions, sex, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and girls at puberty.
Review: Hungry hell
Helen Ward
The author writes about her own experience and recovery from Anorexia Nervosa.
Review: Savage girls and wild boys
Professor Peter Hobson
This book looks at famous wild (‘feral’) children, or children who have been severely deprived throughout history from different cultures.
Review: Suicidal behaviour, bereavement and death education in Chinese adolescents
John Coleman
This is a combination of reports on academic studies and practice issues. The book draws the reader into cross cultural psychology. There are chapters which have implications for suicide prevention.
Review: The worry website
Cathy Gilligan
This book is a collection of seven linked stories, each one exploring a different emotional problem. The kids in Mr. Speed’s primary school class type their worries into a special website he has designed for them, and then their friends respond with advice. Gradually the kids understand their classmates better and learn to cope with their problems.
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