Episodes

  • S6 Ep6: Mind the Kids: Prenatal substance exposure - hope not judgement

    S6 Ep6: Mind the Kids: Prenatal substance exposure - hope not judgement
    Feb 18 2026

    hThis powerful episode dives into how a mother’s own childhood trauma can quietly shape the emotional lives of her children – and how that cycle can be broken. Drawing on a rare 12‑year study of around 300 mostly Black, highly disadvantaged families in the US Midwest, Dr Meeyoung Min unpacks how her team followed mothers and babies from birth through early adolescence to understand what really drives later mental health.​

    Far from blaming mothers, the episode situates these risks in a wider context of poverty, limited opportunity, and unresolved trauma, and leans into hope rather than inevitability. Dr Min makes a compelling case for pregnancy and the early postnatal period as a “golden window” for support – from practical help and non‑judgemental social networks to community and faith groups that wrap around both parent and child – showing that with the right support, intergenerational patterns of harm can be disrupted and futures can be changed.

    The conversation reveals two major pathways: first, mothers who experienced more childhood maltreatment tend to struggle more with their own mental health, making it harder to stay emotionally available, regulate feelings, and use calm, consistent parenting – all of which is linked to greater anxiety, low mood, and acting‑out behaviours in their 12‑year‑olds. Second, prenatal exposure to substances such as cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana appears to alter developing brain systems involved in stress, independently increasing the risk of externalising behaviour.​

    You can read the main JCPP paper discussed in this episode, “Intergenerational transmission of maternal childhood maltreatment, prenatal substance exposure, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in early adolescence at age 12” via https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70030

    Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://www.acamhlearn.org

    Visit https://www.acamh.org

    Facebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMH

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camh

    Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.social

    X https://x.com/acamh
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • S6 Ep5: Mind the Kids - How motor & social skills shape language learning, as captured by genes

    S6 Ep5: Mind the Kids - How motor & social skills shape language learning, as captured by genes
    Feb 12 2026

    What if a baby’s wobbly reach for a spoon or a make-believe tea party could quietly change the way language unfolds? In this episode of Mind The Kids, “Building Blocks: How motor and social skills shape language learning, as captured by genes” host Mark Tebbs talks with Dr Beate St Pourcain and Dr Ellen Verhoeff from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics about what it really means to develop language in a developing body.

    Drawing on their JCPP study of over 6,000 children in the ALSPAC cohort, they follow a developmental cascade that starts with early gross motor milestones like sitting and crawling, moves through culturally shaped self-care and pretend-play skills like using a spoon or hosting a tea party, and then flows into vocabulary and grammar between 15 and 38 months. Along the way, they unpack how genetics and environment intertwine, why social interactions and playful routines act as gateways into language rather than just nice “add-ons,” and what this might mean for parents, carers, clinicians and educators who want to support communication in both autistic and non-autistic children.
    You can read the main JCPP paper discussed in this episode, “Developing language in a developing body: genetic associations of infant gross motor behaviour and self-care/symbolic actions with emerging language abilities” via https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70021

    Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://www.acamhlearn.org
    Visit https://www.acamh.org
    Facebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMH
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camh
    Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.social
    X https://x.com/acamh

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • S6 Ep5: Mind the Kids - Genetic clues to classroom struggles

    S6 Ep5: Mind the Kids - Genetic clues to classroom struggles
    Feb 4 2026

    Why do some children find learning a little harder, and could their genes hold part of the answer? In this episode of Mind the Kids, entitled ‘Genetic clues to classroom struggles’, host Mark Tebbs talks with Dr. Marie-Pier Larose from the University of Turku about her recent JCPP paper.

    They delve into how children’s genetic predispositions—especially those linked to attention and behaviour—can influence how they learn and thrive in school. Marie-Pier shares insights from a major international study exploring the connection between early attention difficulties, mental health, and academic achievement. The discussion highlights the power of early support, the role of teachers and parents, and why understanding these genetic clues can help children reach their full potential—both in the classroom and beyond.

    For more details read the JCPP paper ‘Associations between genetic predisposition to mental health problems and academic achievement: a developmental perspective using two population-based cohorts’ Marie-Pier Larose, Isabel Schuurmans, Edward D. Barker, Liliana Garcia Mondragon, Henning Tiemeier, Irwin Waldman, Charlotte Cecil. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70043

    Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://www.acamhlearn.org
    Visit https://www.acamh.org
    Facebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMH
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camh
    Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.social
    X https://x.com/acamh

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • S6 Ep4: Mind the Kids - Energized or at risk? Distinguishing subclinical hypomania in adolescents

    S6 Ep4: Mind the Kids - Energized or at risk? Distinguishing subclinical hypomania in adolescents
    Jan 28 2026

    Energized, driven, “on a high” – or at the edge of something more serious? This Mind the Kids episode, “Energized or at risk? Distinguishing subclinical hypomania in adolescents”, explores how to tell the difference between healthy teenage intensity and something more problematic.

    Host Mark Tebbs talks to Dr. Georgina Hosang about the topic of hypomania, as she draws on her expertise and research. The conversation unpacks what hypomania can look like at home and at school, how it overlaps with typical mood swings and ADHD, and other conditions, and which red flags suggest it’s time to seek specialist help.​

    Listeners will hear practical guidance on what parents, carers, teachers, and young people themselves can watch for, how to talk about concerns without stigma, and why early recognition matters for safety, learning, and long‑term wellbeing.

    This episode is for anyone supporting adolescents who seem unusually “switched on”, wired, or risk‑taking – and who wants clear, compassionate advice on when to simply ride the wave, and when to seek assistance.

    For more details read the JCPP paper ‘Subclinical hypomania, psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diagnoses: phenotypic and aetiological overlap’ by Georgina M. Hosang et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70045

    Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://www.acamhlearn.org
    Visit https://www.acamh.org
    Facebook and LinkedIn search / ACAMH
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/assoc.camh
    Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/acamh.bsky.social
    X https://x.com/acamh

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • S6 Ep2: Mind the Kids -When language surprises: unexpected bilingualism in autism

    S6 Ep2: Mind the Kids -When language surprises: unexpected bilingualism in autism
    Jan 21 2026
    How can a child suddenly start speaking a language no one around them uses? This Mind the Kids episode, “When language surprises – unexpected bilingualism in autism” dives into the striking phenomenon of autistic children spontaneously acquiring and using a language that is absent from their home, school, and social world.

    Drawing on new research, host Mark Tebbs speaks to David Gagnon, and Dr. Alexia Ostrolenk, on this topic, and their JCPP paper. With minimally speaking autistic children, the discussion explains what unexpected bilingualism is, why it challenges traditional ideas about the role of social interaction in language learning, and how it can reveal an alternative pathway into language. Listeners will hear how parents first notice these surprising language skills, why they may be both confusing and hopeful, and what this means for supporting communication and designing interventions.

    The episode offers clear take home messages for families, educators, and clinicians on recognising hidden abilities, following a child’s interests (from letters and numbers to YouTube subtitles), and rethinking “plateau” periods as times of invisible but important development.

    For more details read the JCPP paper ‘Early manifestations of unexpected bilingualism in minimally verbal autism’ David Gagnon, Alexia Ostrolenk, Laurent Mottron https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70032

    Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast by registering for a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://acamhlearn.org/Home
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • S6 Ep1: Mind the Kids - Irritability in teens, more than a phase

    S6 Ep1: Mind the Kids - Irritability in teens, more than a phase
    Jan 14 2026
    How can you tell when teen irritability is ‘just a phase’ and when it is a sign that something more serious is going on?

    In this episode of Mind the Kids, titled ‘Irritability in Teens More Than a Phase’ host Mark Tebbs talks with Dr Jamilah Silver, Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, whose work focuses on irritability, emotion regulation, and early emerging risk for psychopathology.

    Together they explore why adolescence is a ‘perfect storm’ for irritability, how it shows up in daily life at home and at school, and when persistent anger, conflict, and moodiness start to impair sleep, friendships, and learning. Jamilah shares findings from a large multinational study of adolescents across nine countries, revealing how common chronic irritability is worldwide and how it links to bullying, depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction.

    The conversation also unpacks gender differences, classroom red flags for teachers, and why clinicians are beginning to treat irritability as a transdiagnostic “front door” signal that deserves earlier screening and support. Whether you are a parent, educator, or clinician, this episode offers practical ways to spot when irritability has tipped from typical teen behaviour into something that may need specialist help.

    For more details read the CAMH paper “A large multinational study of irritability in adolescents” Jamilah Silver, Ellen Leibenluft, Wan-Ling Tseng, Daniel N. Klein, Pablo Vidal-Ribas, Reut Naim, Praveetha Patalay, Eoin McElroy, Argyris Stringaris https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.70008

    Get a free CPD/CME certificate for listening to this podcast when you register a FREE ACAMH Learn account at https://acamhlearn.org/Home
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • S4 Ep10: Mind the Kids: Cannabis - Context is everything

    S4 Ep10: Mind the Kids: Cannabis - Context is everything
    Jan 7 2026
    This episode of “Mind the Kids” offers a deeply nuanced discussion on cannabis use and abuse within family contexts and among adolescents. Hosted by Dr. Jane Gilmour and Professor Umar Toseeb, it features expert guests Professor Shelby Steuart and Victoria Bethel, who unpack the complexities of medical versus recreational cannabis, the evolving legal landscape in the US, and associated risks—especially for young people.

    The conversation explores how legalization affects availability and accidental exposures, the potency of cannabis products, and the challenges of regulation and safety. Listeners hear about the social and environmental factors influencing adolescent behavior, the balance of risks and potential benefits, and practical insights into harm reduction. Importantly, the episode emphasizes the need for data-led, non-judgmental approaches to understanding and responding to cannabis use among youth in a changing policy environment. It provides valuable takeaways for academics, clinicians, parents, and policymakers interested in child and adolescent mental health within the context of evolving cannabis laws.

    More information
    Cannabis and pediatric cannabis exposure – evidence from America's Poison Centers
    Shelby R. Steuart, Victoria Bethel, W. David Bradford
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70058
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • S4 Ep9: Mind the Kids: Depression Symptoms - Should Fatigue be in the Major League?

    S4 Ep9: Mind the Kids: Depression Symptoms - Should Fatigue be in the Major League?
    Dec 30 2025
    This episode ‘Depression Symptoms - Should Fatigue be in the Major League?’ extends well beyond clinical perspectives to offer a vivid, human portrayal of what fatigue truly means for young people experiencing depression. By the end of the episode, listeners gain a clear understanding of why fatigue is significant, the scientific revelations about its impact, and how young people themselves wish for their voices and struggles to be acknowledged—inviting reflection, debate, and a renewed commitment to innovation in youth mental health care.

    Dr Nina Higson-Sweeney joins Dr. Jane Gilmour and Professor Umar Toseeb in an open, insightful discussion that blends lived experience with the latest research. The conversation encourages listeners to look beyond clichés—emphasising that fatigue is not simply ‘being tired’ but a profound, subjective exhaustion that rest does not alleviate, and which profoundly affects motivation, self-concept, and daily activities.

    Personal accounts reveal fatigue as both a physical and mental force—sometimes striking without warning, often unseen by others, yet disruptive to education, friendships, and self-esteem. Listeners learn how this ‘all-encompassing’ symptom can generate feelings of guilt and social isolation, exacerbated by misunderstandings from peers and even healthcare professionals. The episode adeptly explores the blurred distinctions between fatigue, tiredness, and executive function challenges such as procrastination, considering how depression complicates these concepts.

    The discussion further examines how current therapies address fatigue—whether they focus on general depression or also reduce fatigue as a distinct symptom. Nina’s research offers promising insights: whether through psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy, or psychoanalytic methods, treating depression in adolescence can alleviate fatigue; however, more nuanced, targeted interventions may yield even better outcomes.

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins