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A school for hearts before heads
Cato Hoeben
The author takes a look at the Summerhill School, which was founded by A.S. Neill in 1921. He speaks to students about what it is like to be in a school, which has a very different ethos to your average state school. Most of the students were happy with, and benefited from being offered autonomy over their education, but there were a few who would like to have a bit more pressure put on them to work harder.
Attachment anxiety
Margot Waddell, Sue Gerhardt and Wendy Bates
This debate asks 3 experts whether nurseries are suitable places for babies and very young children. All contributors look at the evidence around this issue. Margot Waddell, psychoanalyst and consultant child and adolescent psychotherapist, states that day-care, even of high quality, is not the solution for a child under two, any more than leaving the child with a stressed and possibly depressed young parent. Sue Gerhardt, psychoanalytical psychotherapist, believes that nurseries have much to offer pre-school children, but in her view they have little to offer babies. Wendy Bate, Family Support and Early Years Development Manager, says that good quality care for children under two can benefit both children and parents.
Crying to be heard
Lesley Downie
This article looks at why we need to be mindful about how we respond to a crying baby. It goes on to look at how this is connected to the parent-child relationship, and is a crucial element of attachment and attunement.
Daughters of traditions
Paul A. Singh Ghuman
The author looks at the difficulties that young, Asian women face when trying to reconcile the values and traditions of their home with those of the wider western world. The article goes on to look at how most Asian girls learn to cope, but there are those who experience great difficulties, and go on to develop mental health problems. It then goes on to describe some initiatives that could help these young women
Health offensive
Martin Smith
This article looks at how Havering Youth Offending Team (YOT) works with their local child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) and other health services to meet the physical and mental health needs of young offenders. The author states that they hold monthly inter-agency meetings with CAMHS. In particular they look at those who haven’t been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, but who have severe mental health and drug problems. The article also looks at how they work with the young people. They give a list of times when they have found it important to build a therapeutic relationship with young people and their families.
How do we know if we are doing any good?
Miranda Wolpert and Bob Foster
This article looks at the CAMHS Outcome Research Consortium (CORC), which aims to institute a common model of routine outcome evaluation and then analyse the data. This consortium is still in its infancy, but about one third of all services across the UK are now members.
How intelligent can we be about emotion?
Peter Wilson, Frank Furedi and James Park
This article looks at the current debate about teaching emotional literacy in our schools. Peter Wilson looks at some of the current initiatives, but warns that they might bypass ‘the depths of many children’s mental health problems’, and place too much burden onto teachers. Frank Furedi discusses why he is against the teaching of emotional literacy. James Park, Director of Antidote, counters Furedi’s argument.
Madness incorporated
Angela Neustatter
This article is based on an interview with Jason Pegler, author of ‘A Can of Madness’, and founder of the Chipmunkapublishing Company. Pegler tells us that he wrote the book because at the time of his illness, there were no books that explained what manic depression is. He gives us an insight into what it is like to have manic depression. Plus, he also discusses how he manages his illness.
Professional dilemma
Rachel Pick and Glyn Jones
This article gives a fictional case of a 12-year-old boy who exhibits problematic behaviour at school, but his academic work is fine. This is followed by the opinions of a child and adolescent psychotherapist, and a senior CAMHS nurse. They discuss their different approaches to this case, but both say that they would talk to the boy to find out how he sees the situation.
Talking to Tweenies
Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer
This article looks at the pre-teen phase of development, which has been termed as tweenies. The author states that this phase has largely been viewed as relatively unproblematic, however it is now clear that the 5 years from the age of 8 to 12 can generate significant uncertainty. She goes on to list the key pre-teen developmental changes. The article concludes by stating that time spent getting it right during the pre-teen period will bestow long-term benefits for tweenies, their families and carers, and later on, for government.
Review: Adolescence
David Berridge
This book is packed with helpful, practical advice for those working directly with adolescents. It is intended specifically for those new to front line youth work, social work, foster care, residential care and teaching. It spans a wide range of subjects, including understanding adolescents. The reviewer particularly enjoyed the section about communicating with teenagers. On the whole he found it to be original and refreshing.
Review: Afterlife
Imogen le Patourel
Afterlife (certificate 15) is the story of a 21 year-old with Down’s Syndrome, whose mother is diagnosed with cancer. The film is made with a gentle touch and an unaffected humanity, which create a far less gloomy viewing experience. The film develops the tension between member of the family facing the dilemma of their future. The strengths of the film are sustained to the end, where Roberta (the daughter) makes her own, crucial decision.
Review: How light gets in
Angela Neustatter
This book tells the story of Lou Connor, who as a teenager is picked to leave her home in Sydney and spend a year with a host family in America. The reviewer states that this is a wonderful book in which the author explores the central characters yearning to be liked while behaving at times in a most unlikeable way. This character reminds us how much kids like this need real care, not the self aggrandising gesture that is withdrawn because the Lou’s of this world can not offer a big enough reward.
Review: The child abusers
Anne Bannister
This book, which begins with the prevalence and consequences of all kinds of childhood abuse, is very well researched and referenced. The author spells out how attachment is undermined by abuse and how this leads to poor mental health in the child. This book is vital reading for policy makers as well as for all professionals who may come into contact with child abuse.
Review: Therapeutic communities
Billy Pughe
This book gives an outline of the core theoretical framework, how they developed, the nature and needs of the children and young people placed within them, and the value of group dynamics and systemic thinking in the creation of a therapeutic milieu. It is particularly relevant to any practitioner or manager who is aiming to set-up this type of provision.
Review: Values in sex education
Eremina Bell-Gam
This book is aimed at teachers, but it could be extended to parents, to invite them to be part of an open debate about how sex education is being taught. This book takes a refreshing look at the sex education programme, arguing that values are a determining factor in how sex education is taught.
Webwatch: Terror alert
Rachel Hindley
This column looks at what is available in helping to support children emotionally through potentially traumatic events that affect the whole community.
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