UniversityofBath OP t1_j0yhban wrote on December 20, 2022 at 10:15 AM

Reply to comment by Son_of_Belgarath in Hi! I’m Dr Lucy Maddox from Bath University (UK). I’m a clinical psychologist researching compassionate care and things that can get in the way. I have a new book out called A Year To Change Your Mind, about how psychology can help with everyday life by UniversityofBath

Hi! Firstly, I am really sorry that you've had this experience. I hope you've got good support around you now. It's really difficult to feel like you've missed out on a lot. I hope you have found someone to talk to about the negative coping mechanisms you mention too - to help with finding and practising alternatives.

In terms of improvements to assessment of mental health in children now - it depends which country you are in as to what is available, but in the UK there is a new initiative to bring mental health workers into schools with a new type of worker (educational mental health practitioners). Historically sometimes clinical psychologists or counsellors were embedded in schools but funding for this dwindled and the new EMHPs are a response to try to get to students earlier if they are having problems. It has only just started so it's too soon to say how it's going but I think the idea of getting in early is a good one. There are also some fab research projects looking at early intervention, for example CUES: https://cues-ed.co.uk/what-we-do/

Son_of_Belgarath t1_j12y7xd wrote on December 21, 2022 at 7:36 AM

Thanks for the info! 2nd part to the question if you don’t mind, do you think there is a risk if children are put through therapy too early and latch onto a diagnosis such as dyslexia and then not try to push themselves because they feel they have a condition stopping them?