Characterised by social communication difficulties, restricted and repetitive behaviour and sensory anomalies, Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that can impact how people perceive the world around them and interact with others (Lei et al., 2023). Whilst it is estimated that around 1 in 100 children are autistic, many remain undiagnosed with evidence of increasing waiting times between initial referrals and appointments for suspected autism (World Health Organisation, 2023). According to data published by NHS England, between July and September 2023, children and young people waited on ..read more

My name is Hannah, and after completing an undergraduate degree in Literature at the University of York, I am now a current Publishing MA student at City, University of London. The course at City has been fascinating; it has massively broadened my understanding of the publishing industry, allowed us to discuss more broadly the issues and opportunities that it may face in the coming years, and has given us the opportunity to meet industry professionals. Beyond this, being able to experience publishing outside of the academic sphere and undertake industry placements has been profoundly helpful ..read more

We are delighted to announce the release of the 2024 Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry (JCPP) Annual Research Review, edited by Sara R. Jaffee. “The papers in the 2024 Annual Research Review describe how people and systems change each other, how people change over developmental and historical time, and how environments characterized by change impact human development.” – Sara R. Jaffee. This JCPP Annual Research Review aims to: Examine individual developmental change. Explore secular change and dynamic changes. Engage with the impact of environmental change. We hope that you can a ..read more

Whilst sleep has an important role in maintaining health and wellbeing, the amount of sleep required to maintain good ‘sleep hygiene’ varies for children across different ages (Bruce et al., 2017; GOSH, 2024). It is very common for children and young people to have trouble sleeping, with one or two nights of poor sleep not necessarily predicting sleep problems (Owens, 2014; Sivertsen et al., 2017). However, when poor sleep persists over a few weeks and subsequently causes significant distress and impacts a child or young person’s daily functioning then this may be a sign of a sleep problem or ..read more

Every International Women’s Day, there is a call to retain talented women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, with strategies and proposals often given by influential organisations such as the United Nations. These proposals aim to steer improvement in workplace cultures and environments, and champion equity in the opportunities available to women across fields. The theme of this year’s United Nations International Women’s Day is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.” This blog discusses the leaky STEM pipeline with a focus on why we need to invest in women res ..read more

Women have been increasingly represented among psychologists and psychological scientists, including in leadership positions. Gender gaps in hiring for tenure-track jobs and receiving promotion to associate professor have closed over the past 20 years (American Psychological Association, Committee on Women in Psychology, 2017; Gruber et al., 2020). These are huge achievements that should be celebrated this International Women’s Day. However, there remains a large gender difference in the undue burden placed on women faculty to perform higher levels of service. Academic service is a broad categ ..read more

A student is having trouble engaging in class work and often leaves their chair to go talk to others. They forget to turn in their homework and when they do, seem to make a lot of mistakes and struggle to follow directions. They struggle to sit in their seat and often blurt out answers. Teachers often write home saying they are “not living up to their potential.” Who are you picturing? What does the student look like? What gender came to mind? For most of us, it would be a boy. March 8th is International Women’s Day and the focus for this year is “Inspire Inclusion.” As a clinical psychologist ..read more

If you or a person you know is struggling with their mental health, please seek support by accessing the helplines and resources provided by the NHS website. For those outside the UK please use an internet search to find an organisation that can offer direct support. As an increasingly recognised phenomenon, self-harm is defined as any intentional non-fatal act of self-injury, or self-poisoning, irrespective of the type of motivation (Geulayov, 2019). Self-harm behaviours can present with or without suicidal intent, however it is considered as one of the strongest predictors of suicide and is ..read more

In 2019, it was estimated that almost 3 million children and young people worldwide experienced eating disorders (WHO, 2022). Defined by the negative beliefs and behaviours they cause people to have about themselves and their eating, body shape, and weight, eating disorders can have several implications on a person’s physical and mental health, as well as on their development (NICE 2020, Schmidt et al, 2016). During the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary reports from around the world suggest that the prevalence of eating disorders has increased considerably (Auger et al., 2023). In England alone ..read more

The importance of nature in children’s development and mental health is a topic that is increasingly gaining attention in contemporary research (McAdams et al., 2023). From improving cognitive functions to reducing symptoms of stress – studies in renowned journals like JCPP Advances and CAMH suggest that regular nature experiences not only enhance the well-being of children but are also essential for their holistic development. In this blog post, we dive into the world of child and adolescent psychiatry and explore how experiences in nature can serve as a catalyst for healthy growth. Unveiling ..read more