Growing up in a Mad World
Thursday 27 September
19.00-20.30
This event brought together three experts to discuss the pivotal issues relating to treatment of young people’s mental health today. Mobile phones, the internet and drugs present new choices for young people, which bring with them new pressures. Some studies say that mental illness in young people has increased in the last 20 years. But is this increase a reality, or are we just getting better at diagnosing these illnesses?
There are many treatment options for teenagers, but access to these can be difficult. Cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy and medication are just some of the treatments on offer. The risks of antidepressants have been well documented, and now talking therapy is recommended before medication, but all treatments have their ups and downs.
The discussion involved a large amount of debate around the roles of parents, teachers and social workers in young people’s lives.
Speakers
David Healy, Professor of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University
Carly Raby, Young People's Participation Manager, YoungMinds
Raphael Kelvin, Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Trust
Facilitator
Toby Murcott, science writer and presenter
David Healy
I studied at University College Dublin and the University of Cambridge. I am a Professor of Psychological Medicine at Cardiff University and a former Secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. I have been involved as an expert witness in homicide and suicide trials involving SSRI drugs, and in bringing the problems of these drugs to the attention of American and British regulators, as well as raising awareness of how pharmaceutical companies market drugs by marketing diseases, and co-opting academic opinion leaders by ghost-writing their articles.
Carly Raby
I obtained a Master's in Education in Integrated Therapeutic Arts from the Institute of Child Mental Health/Institute of Therapeutic Arts in London. I am also a qualified psychotherapist and have specialised in a range of specific areas in relation to supporting children and young people with mental health difficulties. I have previously coordinated a project for children permanently excluded from mainstream services and was Director of Luna, an organisation that operates nationally and across sectors to ensure that children and young people are central to decision-making within organisations created to meet their needs, before moving to YoungMinds.
Raphael Kelvin
I am a consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry based in the outpatient services for children and adolescents in Cambridge. I am particularly interested in emotional disorders and depression/self-harm, and I have several other special interests, including service development and needs analysis/care pathways development, teaching and training, and research. I am a passionate advocate for young people's mental health needs and development of resources to meet these needs. I believe that through teaching, training and research I also contribute to the next generation of professionals and the wider body of knowledge to provide most effective and efficient practice.