Family Talk Live: ADHD, Trauma and the Young Mind
Caring for children with complexity – with Professor Helen Minnis

Caring for a child with ADHD brings energy, individuality, and challenge - and when trauma is also part of their story, the path can feel even more complicated. If you've ever found yourself stuck in a loop, wondering how best to support a young person in your care, this episode was made for you.

In this special edition of Care Visions Family Talk Live, we welcomed Professor Helen Minnis (University of Glasgow) to explore how trauma and neurodiversity intersect, and to share practical, research-informed approaches for supporting young people with complex needs.

About our guest:
Helen Minnis is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow. Her long-standing clinical and research work has focused on the psychiatric impact of abuse and neglect in childhood. Her recent research includes randomised controlled trials of infant mental health services for children in foster care and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy for primary school-aged children in adoptive or foster placements.

Helen also leads behavioural genetic studies investigating the role of abuse and neglect in the context of neurodevelopment across the life-course. Her collaborative work spans institutions including King’s College London, the Universities of Aalborg and Aarhus in Denmark, and the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Hosted by:
Dr Linda de Caestecker, a leading public health expert with over 30 years’ experience. Former Director of Public Health for Greater Glasgow and Clyde, she currently advises the Scottish Government and holds board roles with Community Justice Scotland and Glasgow City Mission.

Raising children today means guiding them through an online world that changes rapidly. In this episode of Care Visions Family Talk, we explored a growing digital trend every carer should understand. Some online spaces aimed at boys and young men promise brotherhood and belonging, but also promote unhealthy and extreme ideas about gender, relationships, and identity. These spaces can be confusing and harmful, especially for teenagers who are still shaping their sense of self.

Professor Harriet Over, a psychologist from the University of York, joined Dr Linda de Caestecker to unpack how carers could recognise harmful online influences and support young people in navigating them.

Together, they covered:

• What these online communities looked like and why they appealed to boys and young men
• How extreme content spread through social media, gaming, and forums
• Signs that a young person might have been influenced by harmful messages
• How carers could open up non-judgemental conversations and build digital resilience

About our guest:
Professor Harriet Over is a professor of psychology at the University of York. Her research investigates the development of prejudice and discrimination in childhood. Her latest project, funded by the European Research Council, explored how online misogyny influences young people's behaviour and experiences.

About our host:
Dr Linda de Caestecker is a public health expert with over 30 years' experience, including as Director of Public Health for Greater Glasgow and Clyde. With a clinical background in obstetrics and gynaecology, she advises the Scottish Government on health policy and serves on the boards of Community Justice Scotland and Glasgow City Mission.

This episode formed part of Care Visions Family Talks – a one-hour online interview series profiling expert work in child development, followed by audience Q&A. These talks aim to share valuable insights from professionals with foster carers, parents, and anyone raising young people.

Recorded live at The Grange Manor in Grangemouth, this powerful panel discussion explored how exploitation is evolving in today’s digital world. Whether you work with young people, are raising children through uncertain times, or simply want to deepen your understanding, this conversation offered vital insight.

Exploitation in 2025 isn’t always visible. It can occur through a screen, behind closed doors, or in plain sight. From exposure to pornography and online grooming, to coercion via social media and peer pressure, young people are facing risks previous generations could hardly imagine.

Hosted by public health expert Dr Linda de Caestecker, the panel featured:

• Professor Alexis Jay, renowned child protection expert and former Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
• Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Lead at Crimestoppers, who has spearheaded national campaigns including work on sextortion awareness

Together, they unpacked the current landscape of online exploitation, how it manifests, and what practical steps we can take to better support and protect the young people in our lives.

What we covered:

• How online platforms can be used for grooming, coercion, and exploitation
• The risks young people face around what they learn online about sex and relationships
• The importance of early intervention, open dialogue, and spotting warning signs
• How parents, carers, educators, and professionals can respond with clarity and compassion

This episode is part of Care Visions’ commitment to raising awareness and empowering communities to take action.