Dr James Dearden
drjamesdearden.bsky.social
Dr James Dearden
@drjamesdearden.bsky.social
Husband. Father to 3 goons. Consultant Paediatrician with critical care & mental health special interest. CYP MH advisor to Devon ICB. Clinical Co-Lead for South West Paediatric Mental Health Network. Maintaining a precarious relationship with coffee.
A brutal summary of what our CYP are dealing with and what we are seeing so much more of across the spectrum in paediatrics. Most of this is not mental illness that requires specialist CAMHS provision and input, but the impacts on life and function are very very real.

apple.news/AwFvzoKRGT_W...
Age of anxiety: poll reveals teen views on stress, social media and school — The Times and The Sunday Times
They lost months of schooling to the Covid lockdowns, have been exposed to an explosion in online pornography and have had more screen time and access to social media than ever before. Now the most co...
apple.news
August 31, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Really proud to have been a part of this team and to sign off with my final editorial comment on such a great edition!

As always - there are some absolute gems to watch out for in here, so well worth reading from cover to cover.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed and continues to do so!
New edition of Milestones is here! This issue all about progressing in paediatrics - with tips on Tier 2 Shifts, the portfolio pathway and new PCHCF curriculum.
www.rcpch.ac.uk/membership/m...

@sebjgray.bsky.social @headsmartfellow.bsky.social @drjamesdearden.bsky.social @hannahbaynes.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
This is an excellent piece, well worth reading, it is on the outsourcing of mental healthcare to the charity sector/commodification of suicide prevention.
madinireland.com/2025/05/dark...
Darkness into light - masking systemic neglect in mental health - Mad in Ireland
Darkness into light
madinireland.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
We're very excited to finish off the week with our first family recruited to the STAR-CAT study! 🎉 🥳 Great work from one of our teams in Devon 🌟
May 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Teens: What New Research Reveals - New blog from Sophie Mizrahi

www.acamh.org/blog/teen-in...

A 2024 systematic review and meta‑analysis by Galgut and colleagues highlights that CBT for insomnia markedly improves insomnia severity
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Teens: What New Research Reveals
A 2024 systematic review and meta‑analysis by Galgut and colleagues highlights that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT‑I) markedly improves insomnia severity and, to a lesser extent, subj...
www.acamh.org
May 29, 2025 at 11:04 AM
This is great - a nuanced discussion, particularly calling out some of the more alarmist voices on this subject
I found this a useful and calm discussion about kids and screens from two people whose writing I’ve learnt a lot from, and challenged my own biases. I admit I still have views on my kids and phones that aren’t especially evidence based, but at least I’m aware of that!
@peteetchells.bsky.social
🌟 KIDS, TEENS, SCREENS + SOCIAL MEDIA 🌟

I’m excited to share this fascinating chat I had with @peteetchells.bsky.social, author of Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time and How To Spend It Better

youtu.be/CDklRSfl8og

We explore the following questions, submitted to us on Instagram:

(cont)
May 13, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
'It seems strange to be so silent on something that has such a profound and harmful effect on people’s health and happiness, and across generations.'

Julia Cream says drop the euphemisms and stop sugarcoating poverty in a new blog. buff.ly/RHxCuW4
Drop The Euphemisms And Stop Sugarcoating Poverty | The King's Fund
There appears to be an unusual reticence within the NHS when it comes to acknowledging poverty. Could identifying it more explicitly be beneficial? Julia Cream explores this matter.
buff.ly
May 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
We're excited to announce that the trial is now open to recruitment! Welcome to our very first site, Cambridge Community Services NHS Trust 👋

Over the next two years we will be aiming to recruit 650 families - have a read of our website to find out more: osiresearch.org.uk/star-cat 👈
May 7, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
I am so excited that this is now out. An absolutely **mammoth** amount of work, please give this thread a read ⬇️💪💪
May 6, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
Great new study that will contribute usefully to the social media and mental health question. It uses more detailed assessment of both social media use and mental health, which has been a bit issue with previous research.
This study shows that...

(cont)
May 6, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
This is a *key* new paper in the world of school mental health interventions

A very large trial (N=6388) testing a universal CBT-based app for adolescent depression (13-14y)

No effects found (on depression, anxiety, distress or insomnia)

(🧵)

mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1...
April 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
It's one of the greatest things I have ever seen.
This is high art
April 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
@centreformh.bsky.social have produced another stellar publication c quantifiable data measuring the impact of complex MH conditions.

Whilst the study population is in adults, the genesis of these stories is in early childhood & adolescence.
#KidsMH

www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/wp-content/u...
www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk
April 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This is challenging news.
Today's news threatens children's mental health.

⬇️Spending on mental health services is being cut
⬆️Child poverty has increased

This means we are now in a situation where need amongst cyp is rising, and funding for support is being cut.

Read our full response⬇️

cypmhc.org.uk/todays-news-...
Today’s news from the Government threatens children’s mental health | CYPMHC
Today, the Government published two announcements that will have major implications on babies, children and young people’s mental health. We explore these announcements and what they mean.
cypmhc.org.uk
March 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
We’ve had a brilliant start to the RCPCH 2025 Conference in Glasgow today!

Check out some of our highlights from Day 1 👇

www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-conference-2025-highlights-day-1 #RCPCH25
March 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Sadly clashes with Mental Health Committee morning session, but have serious FOMO about this breakfast workshop!
March 26, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Excited about the next 3 days learning, networking and sharing great practice @rcpch.bsky.social #RCPCH25

Watch out for demos of the new ALSG course - CYP APEx (Acute Psychosocial Emergencies) and the MH workshop on day 2 11am!
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Fantastic night at the Peninsula PAFTAs celebrating all that is great about Paediatrics and the people we work with.

Such a great honour to work with so many exceptional staff working to support CYP and families in Cornwall and Devon.

@rcpch.bsky.social

paftas.net/the-winners-2/
March 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Wish there was an easy way to set up an automatic repost when these podcasts drop! They’re great!
March 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
The spring edition of #RCPCHMilestones explores how health professionals can come together to support children and young people – from navigating screen time to adopting a pro-play mindset.

www.rcpch.ac.uk/milestones

@sebjgray.bsky.social @drjamesdearden.bsky.social @headsmartfellow.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
Investment in early intervention and prevention services, including parent-infant relationship services, is vital. Statement from the BPS.

www.bps.org.uk/news/investm...
www.bps.org.uk
March 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by Dr James Dearden
🧵A new report by @edupolicyinst.bsky.social calls on the government to address the underlying causes of school absences- a key factor in the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

epi.org.uk/publications... (1/4)
Breaking down the gap - Education Policy Institute
The latest report by EPI investigates the drivers of the disadvantage gap and calls on the government to address the underlying causes of school absences, as it identifies higher levels of absence to ...
epi.org.uk
March 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM