Causes of mental health problems (C&A Mental Health Forum)

Part of our series of online Child and Adolescent Mental Health Forums, proudly brought to you by the Centre for Child Mental Health, in partnership with the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE).

Attend any of the 10 live sessions/modules (or their time-limited recording) to gain a CPD Certificate of Attendance. Attend or view all 10 sessions/modules to access two further IATE Awards.

Causes of Mental Health Problems

In this forum, Dr Sunderland will address why people get mental health problems, what is their purpose and what the mind is trying to protect you from. In addressing causes, the myths of faulty genes or a chemical imbalance in the brain will be challenged with hard facts.

There will be key focus given to the reason why just focusing on symptom control is not the answer. As Leslie Greenberg (researcher in therapeutic change) says, “Coping mechanisms and transformational change are two totally different enterprises but often meshed together as if they are the same thing. My hope is that somewhere in the future we will have a clear distinction.”

In light of this, Dr Sunderland will explore theories of change, and the research evidencing how people get better from a mental health problem (transformational change/personal development not just symptom alleviation). She will discuss research findings showing actual changes in the brain and body resulting from therapeutic human connection, so that people can go on to enjoy real quality of life.

The presentation will include fascinating case material to illustrate all of the above. In addition, Dr Sunderland will discuss the current movement away from the medical/disease model of mental ill-health to a trauma-informed model. As such, when discussing mental health problems, we refer to people with problems rather than patients with illnesses.

Dr Margot Sunderland

Founding Director Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (Higher Education College Academic Partner of the University of East London). Director of Education and Training Centre for Child Mental Health. Director of Innovation and Research Trauma Informed Schools UK (TISUK). TISUK has delivered training to over 20,000 school and community staff across the UK. They have University of East London and DfE approved trainings. Currently undertaking a random control trial for Home Office and Youth Endowment Foundation, on trauma informed practice in schools.

Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapist with over thirty years’ experience. Author of over twenty books in the field of child mental health, which collectively have been translated into eighteen languages and published in twenty-four countries. Author of the internationally acclaimed book, ‘The Science of Parenting’ (Dorling Kindersley) which won a First Prize in the British Medical Association Book Awards (popular medicine) and endorsed by the world’s leading affective neuroscientist, Professor Jaak Panksepp. The book has also been voted as one of the top brain books of our time by The Dana Foundation.

Event Venue

Online