YoungMinds Magazine Issue 87 - OUT NOW

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Eating madness

Patrick Holford and Deborah Colson

The authors look at some of the current research findings related to the link between nutrition and mental health. Plus, they explain how diet effects children from a physical perspective, as well as how it effects their behaviour, cognitive abilities and so on.

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A child in chaos

Angela Neustatter

The author reports on her visit to the Orchard Unit, which is a psychiatric unit for children and young people aged 11-18, based in Cheshire. The unit is privately owned, but takes only NHS patients. It was set-up to address the massive inadequacy of funding for young people and of beds for them in the North West.

A cut not too many

Reva Klein

Recent research shows that the maturation of the brain lags behind the development of the body. The frontal cortex is still developing into late teens and this part of the brain controls the ability to think flexibly, deal with more than one piece of information and control one’s behaviour. Cutting back on the number of tests taken by young people will help relieve pressure on young people at a time of enormous transition.

A journey to solace

Robin Richmond

The author describes how she finally dealt with the loss of child by finishing a book intended for her son 25 years after his death.

A matter of understanding

Hannah Frankel

Epilepsy can have a dramatic impact on the social and mental health of sufferers. Restrictions that are imposed on epileptics can be particularly hard for teenagers, often leading to depression. The use of alcohol or recreational drugs can minimise the effectiveness of medication and increase the chance of seizure. Teenagers need to be more informed about their disease so they feel empowered and retain some control over their lives.

A safe pair of hands

Kathryn Pugh

The author looks at the lack of strategic planning with regards to children’s inpatient units and states that there is a need to plan them nationally rather than locally. The article goes on to look at the current problems facing these units, which include closures.

A special girl

Ami Cripps

The author suffered years of sexual abuse by her stepfather, starting when she was six until she moved out at 19. The result of this abuse left her feeling guilty and depressed and in need of psychiatric help. Writing poetry has proved to be good therapy in helping to control destructive behaviour and rebuild her life.

Across the pond: Hell hath no fury like a sibling suppressed

Dr Patrick Lindesay

The idea that the actions of an older sibling can adversely affect your life is intriguing to a psychiatrist.

All part of the game

Crispin Andrews

Young women stop participating in sport in their teens and are missing out on the positive effects that sport can have. Exercise becomes a low priority for girls as their lifestyle changes. Schemes aimed at bringing young women back into sport must address the barriers to girls’ participation.

Catching them early

Cathy Street

The author reports on a seminar, which looked at the research in progress, and considered current policy and practice in early intervention in psychosis. The major theme of the day was the need to disseminate research evidence about early intervention services more widely and actively.

Hard to swallow

Courtenay Van de Weyer

The author discusses the findings from two reports, which looked at the connection between diet and mental health. Plus, they look at what the gaps are in the research base.

Harsh realities and humanity

Morag Livingstone

The author writes about her experience of sharing the lives of three families living in poverty in Scotland. The article highlights how poverty and social exclusion can affect mental health.

See beyond the label

Jude Sellen

Participation between young people who self harm and the professionals who help them can help develop truly supportive services. Working with young people who are experiencing mental health problems can be hard work but the rewards out weigh the barriers.

Self help

Tegan Neustatter

This article is about the benefits of self-help in overcoming grief and depression. It is about a young man who was so moved by the plight of tsunami victims that he spent six months as volunteer in Sri Lanka. He found that helping others to overcome their problems gave him the therapy he needed to overcome the grief of his mother’s death.

The enemy within

Val Besag

Bullying between girls is different from that between boys. It is more subtle and covert than boys’ bullying and the victim is often well known to the bully, often their former best friend. Girls who bully will use gossip, social exclusion and verbal abuse. This is often perceived by parents and professionals as squabbling and not seen as damaging as physical abuse. The effects on those who are vulnerable can be very damaging and long lasting.

Unsealing the emotions

Jean Gross

The SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) programme is designed to help children understand their own feelings. It is based on seven themes, using school assembly, games and activities to develop social emotional and behavioural skills. A recent evaluation suggests that SEAL is not only having an impact on children’s confidence and communication skills but is having a positive effect on their learning.

Review: Facing forward - residential child care in the 21st century

David Berridge

This book draws together 17 chapters arising from a collaboration mainly between English and Scottish academics and practitioners. The chapters are lively and not too long and include some well-known contributors. The reviewer thinks that overall, this is a valuable book that fills an important gap. It mainly for experienced practitioners, managers and students.

Review: House Rules

Alison Taylor

This novel is about Lee, a 15-year-old who has been abused by her father. The review states that she ‘found the novel, hailed as “uncompromising” and “painfully truthful”, tedious and nasty. More problematically, its vital premises became increasingly preposterous’. ‘Despite the novels shock value, it offers little insight into the effects of abuse’.

Review: Living with loss and grief

Anna Flanigan

This book, which is written by a psychotherapist, looks at the process of grief as a response to various forms of separation and loss. The book is written in an affecting and compassionate way from a well-informed and erudite point of view. It is a book that would appeal both to those who have experienced loss and to the professionals who are trying to help them.

Review: Love + Hate

Imogen Le Patourel

This certificate 15 film, is the story of two unfolding relationships across the divide – cultural, social, racial, religious – in an unspecified Lancashire town. This is a highly charged film, packing in an almost overwhelming amount of drama and tension, but it is constantly absorbing and grounded.

Review: The spirit of the child

Jim Richards

This book explores children’s spirituality. The early chapters discuss theoretical issues and this is contrasted with a chapter based on ‘brave and imaginative’ research, which shows beyond question that children are capable of a spiritual life, a life which in turn is closely linked to their individuality’. The final chapter deals with practical exploration of how spiritual life may be developed and nurtured in our schools.

Review: Urban Grimshaw and the Shed Crew

Howard Williamson

The review states that ‘I warmed, slowly, to the book. I cannot say I enjoyed it – there is little to be enjoyed in an account of a small group of kids living on the edge: out of school, sexually active, already regular users of every conceivable drug and largely abandoned by uninterested or absent parents. ‘There may be some concession to poetic licence and a good story, but the author captures the bleak side of underclass life, at least in Leeds, with power, persuasion and passion.

Review: Zone of the interior

Peter Wilson

This book, which is based on the author’s experience of R D Laing, was published in 1976, but has only just been published in England. The author states that the book is a work of imagination, but Laing is said to have described the book as blasphemous.

Webwatch: A house but not a home

Rachel Hindley

Websites dealing with homelessness and housing provision are the subject of this webwatch.