The Psychology Digest

Today’s clinicians play a critical role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people amid growing awareness and need. Across Australia, New Zealand and many countries throughout Asia, clinicians are seeing increasing demand for mental health assessment and support services for children and young people. Children and adolescents are also increasingly receiving multiple diagnoses — e.g. depression and anxiety or autism and ADHD.

Mental health screening and assessment tools are more important than ever, and one of the most foundational tools—the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)—is soon to be released by Pearson in its fourth edition. As discussed in a recent episode of Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support, the BASC-4 includes important updates for clinicians and educators while retaining the evidence-based approach that has made it a trusted and effective suite of resources for nearly 40 years.

In recent decades, an increasing number of children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the U.S. According to the latest CDC data, the number of 8-year-olds identified with ASD is about 1 in 31. However, as discussed on a recent episode of our podcast, “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support,” there is more to that number than meets the eye.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be challenging to diagnose due to complex symptom presentation and varying levels of healthcare resources. Tyler Vassar, Ed.S., a school psychologist, during the episode of Pearson’s podcast “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support" covered best practices for clinicians to collaborate with educators and caregivers to address different challenges. By utilising a team approach and high-quality screening tools, clinicians play a key role in supporting students with ADHD so they can thrive in and out of the classroom.

There has been a growing recognition within the education sector, echoed across society more broadly, of the increasing mental health challenges facing students. More children and adolescents are receiving diagnoses, and more schools are reporting a rise in the number of students seeking mental health support services.

As K–12 educators and clinicians respond to this reality, there has been a corresponding shift in the understanding that timely intervention can significantly influence a student’s academic outcomes and overall wellbeing.

How CAT-MH^® helped one practice save lives

In the world of behavioral health, every moment counts. When someone reaches out for help, there's often a narrow window of opportunity—one that can close quickly if the right support isn't available immediately. For Bernie Dyme, a licensed clinical social worker with over four decades of experience, finding ways to maximize that critical window became essential as his practice grew.

What if the young people involved in community violence were just individuals struggling with untreated mental health conditions? 

This question lies at the heart of groundbreaking research that's changing how we understand and address violence in our communities.

Dr. Michael Brook, associate professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, has spent years studying this connection. His work reveals something most people don't realize: the majority of young people who become involved in community violence have significant histories of trauma, depression, hopelessness, and other mental health conditions that directly increase their risk.

Dr. Lisa Pellegrin, a licensed clinical psychologist in Tennessee, discovered exactly how to make this happen—and it's changing how she delivers care in her private practice.

What if you could spot undiagnosed ADHD in a 40-year-old father who came in for marriage counseling? Dr. Jared Minkel did exactly that—and it changed his patient's life. But first, the backstory...

If you're an occupational or physical therapist, you probably spend a lot of your day thinking, talking, and reading about motor skills. But have you ever come across the term “Fundamental Movement Skills”? Until recently, I hadn't, but it turns out there is a whole body of literature devoted to studying and discussing this construct that is, well, fundamental to children's ability to engage in play, recreation and activities of daily life. Sounds pretty relevant to what we do, right?