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Thinking beyond fear
Angela Neustatter
This article looks at how the London bombings have impacted on young Muslims in Britain. Plus, it also looks at the wider context and explores the reality of growing-up in Britain. The author quotes statistical and other information, which illustrates the risk factors for this group of young people. She mentions the Muslim Youth Helpline, which is a service aimed at 16-25 year olds and was set-up by a young man who was bullied at school because of his religion and because he was different.
A healing landscape
Isabel Carlisle
This article focuses on The Festival of Muslim Cultures, which is currently being organised to run during 2006. The organiser is interested in working with organisations and individuals, Muslim and non-Muslim, and is putting together a programme of arts celebrating Muslim arts. It will be a celebration that places contemporary and traditional Muslim cultures centre stage in the UK and I will be an entirely non-political event.
A life less ordinary
Terry Philpot
This article tells the story of Michael, who although diagnosed with autism overcame the barriers that this condition often erect and now teaches maths and science and has a master’s degree in education and plans to move into higher education as an academic.
A maverick who minds
Angela Neustatter and Dinah Morley
This article is based on an interview with Dinah Morley, Deputy Director of YoungMinds, who is retiring in September 2005. It is a very candid account of her personal and professional life.
A novel understanding
Annita Wahab
Five professionals, who are experts in their fields tell us what novels they would recommend to help us all understand one another better. The five professionals are psychiatrist, Allan Beveridge; Psychologist and author, Oliver James; Secondary school English teacher, Phil Hoby; Psychologist and author, Dorothy Rowe; and Psychotherapist and former Director of YoungMinds, Peter Wilson.
Across the pond
Dr Patrick Lindesay
The author discusses the problem of obesity amongst teenagers in the USA. He looks at some of the contributing factors e.g. lack of knowledge about nutrition and how the levels of physical activity often decline in the adolescent years. Plus, he also looks at some research, which looks at the connection between depression and obesity.
CAMHS in England 2005: a picture of progress?
Miranda Wolpert, Bob Foster and Richard Wistow
This article analyses the latest CAMHS Mapping data and compares it with previous years data to see if how services improving. For instance, they state that the results suggest that there has been increased funding for services resulting in increased number working in CAMHS. They also state that there has been some progress towards the standards set out in the Children’s National Service Framework.
Deeper connections
Simon Richey
This article focuses on the Parenting Information Point (PIP) pilot projects, which were run by the Gulbenkian Foundation in partnership with the National Family and Parenting Institution. The projects ran in primary and secondary schools in three local authority areas and offered parents short, after school information sessions in child development, focusing in particular on the transition from primary to secondary school. They found that these projects reached a substantial number of minority ethnic Asians and Asian British parents as well as white Britons and helped to bring the community together as parents. One of the pilot areas is now reporting fear and suspicion in their community and the author asks whether the parenting project, which previously helped bring the community together could help the community to transcend their racial and cultural differences and help the current situation.
For better or worse
Olivia Hewitt
The author looks at how the Internet has become an important resource for those who self harm because of its anonymity and accessibility. However, whilst there are websites that provide positive support, there are others which call themselves pro-injury websites. The latter may include similar information to the former, but they also carry information which would be deemed unacceptable on support sites i.e. explict information on how to self harm. The author states that individuals may use both types of website and this may reflect them moving through a ‘stages of change’ model i.e. moving from considering change to actually making positive steps to changing their behaviour. The author also discusses how professionals should have an open discussion with clients about whether they access information about self harm on the website. Plus, she also states that these pro-self injury websites can help professionals understand the nature of self harming behaviour and the need for people to tolerate difficult thoughts and feelings around this emotive subject.
From upside down to optimism
'Michael'
This article is by Michael, a young man with autism, but one who has overcome this condition and who is now a teacher. He tells us about his difficult childhood, what it was like for him to be in hospital and how the behaviour modification system helped him control his behaviour. He states that managing autism is a daily challenge, and he often wonders why he has succeeded in managing the condition when others can’t.
Help when it's needed
Richard Meier
This article looks at the need for appropriate and accessible services which young people from all backgrounds would feel able to use. It illustrates how people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds see mental health issues. It also touches on the need to support young people who are making the transition from childhood to adulthood.
If needs must, ChildLine can
Carole Easton and Pamela Dow
This article looks at the work of ChildLine and how they have been providing a tier 1 service for young people in need of help and advice for nearly twenty years. The authors discuss their approach and how they work with young people. Plus, they also talk about how the service fits in with recent government policy.
Muslim children say their bit
Angela Neustatter
This article is based on an interview with a school teacher from North London, who helped young Muslims make a film in which they talk about their thoughts and feelings about who and what they are. The film will be screened at the National Film Theatre in London on September 22nd.
Prizing young minds
Terry Philpot
This article provides an overview of the YoungMinds Book of the Year Award and gives this year’s shortlist. The winner will be announced on the 10th November, 2005.
Review: A Dorset utopia
Terry Philpot
As the title suggests this book is largely the story of only part of Homer Lane’s endeavours, albeit the best-known and most influential part. Lane was appointed head of Little Commonwealth, a residential childcare community deep in the Dorset countryside. He was the subject of sex scandals which finally brought down the organisation and his own career.
Review: Child abuse and neglect attachment, development and intervention
Anna Flanigan
This book on the subject of child abuse is different because it concentrates on the ‘state of mind of the parents and carers’ and how this contributes to the care or lack of care of their children. This is an important and impressive book and an invaluable contribution to the field.
Review: Developing good practice in children's services
David Berridge
A great deal of change has affected children’s services since 1977 and this book sets out the response of one local authority - Warwickshire – to the government’s ‘modernisation’ programme for children’s services. Chapters are mainly written by managers and practitioners n the county and highlight a range of service developments and some imaginative initiatives.
Review: Family wanted
Anthony Douglas
This is a collection of short tales, longer than blogs but shorter than many of the individual tales would warrant. It contains many lessons for professionals. For instance children grow up with many attachments whether we like it or not. As a launch pad for life, these stories illustrate that even with the best of planning, it is a hit and miss business. The best lesson of all is that a well-publicised and accessible post-adoption service is needed, so that wherever you live all concerned have someone to turn to for help and support.
Review: Shake
Angela Neustatter
The main character in this novel is Lily Tempest, one of four sisters growing up in the 1960s in a traditional working class family. The sisters seem happy enough to grow-up in the family mould, but Lily wants more from life and dreams of going to university. This novel, which cavorts along in the beginning, a dryly witty, portrait of the family and its discontents, turns suddenly into a place where difficult decisions, deceptions and the constructed story of the Tempest parents’ lives is revealed with all that it means for Lily.
Webwatch: Cultural access
Rachel Hindley
This webwatch looks at some of the better sites that try to foster an understanding of the different cultures and religions of people living in the UK. It also looks at sites that offer support and advice to young people and parents who might find it difficult to access mainstream resources.
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