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Border line
Tracey Maher
This article looks at the impact of the devolution of the UK government on CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). All four UK countries have identified child and adolescent mental health as a priority area and have produced their own strategies, but they are developing in different ways and at different speeds. As a result of all this activity, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has set up a Cross Jurisdictional Review Group, which covers the 4 countries and the Republic of Ireland. The aim is to strive for high quality, comprehensive, sustainable and equitable CAMHS across the UK. A recent survey suggests that there is no significant difference in the prevalence and type of mental health problems experienced by young people across the four countries, but service provision is not equitable. Also, the article states that practitioners share the same problem across the four countries, and would benefit from sharing good practices.
A new dawn
Steven Walker
This article looks at the training needs of the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) workforce. In particular, it looks at a new CAMHS programme that is being run at Anglia Polytechnic University in Essex. This includes a foundation module, which acts as a bridge towards a graduate level BSc, a postgraduate diploma and the post graduate MSc in CAMHS. The programme has a multi-agency approach, and aims to develop their subject knowledge, prepare them for working in partnership with users, to work in a multi-agency service, and to work in different care settings. Also, the author discusses the importance of inter-professional training and how this can help multi-agency working, and also the quality of care of the children and young people who use the services.
Early learning centre
Nick Midgley, Maria Barros and Annabel Kitson
This article is based on a small-scale research project which looked at the views of parents who had attended the Anna Freud Centre’s parent-toddler groups. It examines what parents thought of the group setting, their personal experience of the group, and parental views on toddler experience of the group. The conclusions confirmed the importance of early intervention. Also, the authors state that the groups’ psychoanalytical focus means that they are not just teaching parenting skills, but are encouraging parents to get in touch with their children’s emotional lives.
Evidence based challenges
Miranda Wolpert and Bob Foster
This article looks at what is meant by the evidence-based approach, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. The authors argue that an evidence based practitioner must be able to critically appraise the evidence base; use their clinical experience and the evidence base to justify why a particular approach is being adopted in any given circumstance; and to collaborate with colleagues to put in systems to allow for a systematic review of their own practice.
Fear factor
Angela Neustatter
This article look at some research and projects that have been set up to either look at how the threat of terrorism is impacting on children, or helping children by supporting and giving advice to their parents. It has been found that even young children are very aware of terrorism, and of the threat of terrorism within the UK. Also, the author discusses how media coverage can impact on children. However, one of the main themes is that parents, carers and other adults can help children be resilient by being honest, keeping things in perspective and generally being there to give support.
First choice
Paul Carter
This article, which is written by a consultant paediatrician, looks at the research around the safety of the MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella) vaccine, and whether it causes autism. He states that whilst the MMR vaccine is safe, the single vaccines offer no benefits and many risks.
Guiding light
Katie Brewin
The author discusses the importance of specialist bereavement support for children as a means of preventing mental health problems. In particular she looks at the Candle Project, which is based at the St Christopher’s Hospice in London, and the St Ann’s Hospice in Manchester. Both of these services are to some extent involved in external education and outreach work. The author states that there is a high demand on the service and the training they provide, but they have serious funding issues.
In the balance
David Healy, Dr Kim Kennedy and Richard Brook
This debate looks at whether young people should ever be treated with psychotropic medication. In particular, it looks at the warning from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that certain SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) used to treat depression should not be given to young people under 18. It includes contributions from David Healy, Director of the Department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales and Consultant Psychiatrists; Dr Jim Kennedy, General Practitioner; and Richard Brook, Chief Executive of Mind.
Professional dilemma
Avril Washington and Jo Carroll
This article gives a fictional case of a five-year-old girl, whose behaviour has given both her parents and her school cause for concern over the last year. This is followed by the opinions of a consultant paediatrician, and a play therapist. Both state what they would do if this child was referred to them.
Snapping into place
Richard Meier
This article gives an overview of the development of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in Scotland post devolution. It brings together the main documents and policy initiatives. In particular it looks at the National Programme for Mental Health, and the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme’s report. The article states that the National Programme is conscious of getting a balance between relying on the existing evidence base from outside Scotland, and believing that Scotland has to reinvent the wheel. It also looks at some of the work around structural changes in Scotland that will affect CAMHS.
Review: Anorexia diaries
Pippa Hugo
This compelling book traces the suffering of a teenage girl with Anorexia Nervosa and her mother, through their separate diaries over about seven years. The diaries show the very different perspectives and thoughts they both had as the illness unfolds. The final chapter is written by Dr Craig Johnson, a specialist in eating disorders. He gives information about eating disorders, and includes a section called ‘What to do if I suspect my child has an eating disorder’.
Review: Capturing the Friedmans and Festen
Imogen Le Patourel
This film documentary, Capturing the Friedmans tells the remarkable true story of the American Friedman family. The father, who was a respected teacher, was arrested after being caught ordering child pornography. The ensuing investigation uncovered numerous allegations of sexual abuse by children who had been taking computer classes at the Friedman home. Both the father, and his youngest son were implicated and arrested, and the film is based on home movie footage shot by the family documenting their reaction as a family. Festen, the stage adaptation of the Dogme film, deals with similar themes of the repercussions of child abuse and a family that colludes in denial and finally implodes.
Review: Child and adolescent mental health services
Jenny Doe
This book is an accessible introduction to those new to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) management and a valuable guide to all the key issues for those already embroiled in it. The reviewer states that her chief criticism is that the book fails to offer illustrative cameos of how any of the services outlined might actually look in practice.
Review: Creative therapies with traumatised children
Mick Wood
This describes how the author and her colleagues at the NSPCC employed a creative therapy approach to develop a regenerative model of therapy for children who have experienced abuse.
Review: Janey and me
Peter Wilson
This is an account of the author’s childhood growing up with a mother who has mental health problems. It describes in great detail the author as a child, trying to make sense of, and follow, the unexpected twists and turns of a restless, and for the most part discontented mother.
Review: The presence of the therapist
Mick Wood
This book describes the author’s work as a child and adolescent psychotherapist with distressed and traumatised children. She uses ideas from psychoanalytic psychotherapy, developmental psychology and neuro-scientific research to describe how an understanding of both verbal and non-verbal communication can help to inform the therapeutic process. The reviewer would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to understand the complex nature of therapeutic work with children who have experienced trauma.
Review: Working with involuntary clients
Mark Griffiths
This book gives lots of useful guiding principles and spells out in straightforward terms some of the dilemmas and difficulties commonly encountered when working with involuntary clients. The examples in the book focus on probation and child protection, but the author’s model could be applicable to other fields such as psychiatric hospitals, prisons and children’s homes.
Webwatch: All change
Paula Lavis
This column looks at the recent redevelopment of the Department of Health website. Plus, it briefly covers changes to other relevant websites, such as the Department for Education and Skills.
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