Children, young people and families

“Being lonely is the opposite of the uni experience we hoped for”

Deserted corridors, students trapped in their rooms, a gnawing loneliness. As we remodel how students live and learn, loneliness must be a key consideration says Catherine Fadashe

Mental Health & Loneliness

Young People's Network

Children, young people and families

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“A position of constant anxiety”: How I started living in the present

To celebrate Youth Mental Health Day, student nurse and YPAG member Nkem Naeche shares her top tips for moving forward from an anxious mind-set

Youth Mental Health Day

Young People's Network

Children, young people and families

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Could training young people in peer support empower them during Covid-19?

What impact would training young people to support their peers during the pandemic have on their own wellbeing? Members of McPin's Young People's Network have helped develop a study to find out

Young People's Network

Covid-19

Peer Support

Children, young people and families

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The screen time spider web & why it is so important to understand its impact

In a socially distanced world, screens have become even more central to life. Now, more than ever, we need clear answers about the nuanced ways that screen time affects our mental health

Young People's Network

Screen Time

Children, young people and families

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Screen time, involvement and what it means for young people to be involved in research

Lucy, a member of McPin Foundation's YPAG, reflects on the experience of working on the Screen Time project.

Young People's Network

Screen Time

Children, young people and families

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Myth-busting through art: Designing a mental health audio tour for the National Gallery

Members of McPin’s Young People’s Network have co-created an audio tour that use artworks to dispel common mental health misconceptions. Here, Hannah Roberts, explains why she was keen to get involved

Young People's Network

Children, young people and families

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Vloggers, K-pop and family dinners – how culture impacts on body image

 

Our guest blogger explores the social and culture factors that influence how young East Asians feel about their bodies

Children, young people and families

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Why do the Top 10 priorities for young people’s mental health need answering?
by Jessica Bond

We revealed the Top 10 questions for young people's mental health research at the end of November. Since then, staff and members of our Young People’s Advisory Group have been reflecting on the importance of the questions. Here are a few edited extracts

Children, young people and families

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Let’s break the taboo and find out what helps young people on waiting lists

There is plenty of research on waiting lists, proving they are long and variable. What has been neglected is how people with mental health difficulties can be supported while they wait. This needs to change, says Thomas Kabir

Children, young people and families

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Universities need to find ways to prevent students reaching crisis point

Student mental health is in the spotlight and many universities have publicly stated that they are taking it seriously. That isn’t always how it feels on the ground, says Lucy Power, a first-year English Literature student

Children, young people and families

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Therapy without the therapist: what role should self-help play?

Exercise, meditation and self-help books: A self-directed approach to mental health won’t work for everyone but as Rachel Temple explains, she gained most of her tools from books. She explains why researching which self-management approaches are the most effective is vital

Children, young people and families

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Why we shouldn’t be scared to talk about how parents impact children’s mental health

The Right People, Right Questions project revealed a lack of research investigating the impact of parental attitudes, parenting styles and family relationships on young people's mental health. McPin's research director and mum of two girls, Vanessa Pinfold, reflects on why this needs to change

Children, young people and families

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Finding the right people to ask the right questions: new survey on young people’s mental health  
by Thomas Kabir

What do we really know about young people’s mental health? We know it’s a big issue. Around 1 in 10 young people have experienced a mental health difficulty. Around 75% of people with a mental health problem start developing it before the age of 18¹.

Children, young people and families

Collaborating with people with lived experience

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Mental Health and Bullying – do we need to help teachers help children who are bullied?
by Tilda Simpson

This week (14^th-20^th of November) is anti-bullying week.  Bullying has an undeniable and immediate impact on young people’s mental health. But we also need to think about how we equip teachers not just to help children who are bullied immediately, but to also reduce the long-term impact on their mental health.

Children, young people and families

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Pregnancy and medication choices: new research published
by Harminder Kaur

Many women with severe mental illness take psychotropic medication. This can put them in a difficult situation if they become pregnant, or wish to become pregnant, as there are concerns about the possible effects of these medications on unborn children. Until now there has been a lack of evidence about the risks to the unborn child, putting the women and their healthcare professionals in a quandary.

Children, young people and families

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Children and young people’s mental health – we all have a part to play
by Kirsten Morgan

In recent months, the mental health of children and young people has hit the headlines. It is well established that most mental health problems begin during adolescence, with 1 in 10 young people (aged 11-16) thought to experience a diagnosable mental health problem.

Children, young people and families

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Young People Rethinking Mental Health Conference
by Naomi Clewett

A few of us from McPin attended the Young People ReThinking Mental Health event last week run by the Clinical Research Network: Mental Health. It was a really engaging event showcasing how young people can be involved in mental health research as active advisors and shapers of that research, rather than merely as participants. Read Naomi's blog about the event.

Children, young people and families

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