Description

In this Mind The Kids podcast junior doctor Clara Faria brings listeners into the heart of child and adolescent mental health care. In this episode, Clara welcomes Dr. Robyn McCarron, consultant psychiatrist at Cambridge’s Darwin Centre, for a candid conversation about the realities and challenges of inpatient care for young people. Trigger warning: Sensitive topics such as restrictive practices, eating disorders, and trauma are discussed. Listener discretion is advised. Robyn shares her journey revealing how her experiences shaped her belief that traditional models often fall short for the most complex and vulnerable patients. She describes the inpatient ward as a place where young people arrive carrying not just medical diagnoses, but also deep histories of trauma, developmental struggles, and social adversity. Robyn’s approach is rooted in values—respect, safety, and discovery—always striving to minimize harm and empower young people to participate in their own care. The episode explores the delicate balance between necessary interventions, like feeding under restraint for life-threatening eating disorders, and the risk of causing further trauma. Clara and Robyn also discuss the importance of supporting young people to regain independence and rebuild their lives outside the hospital, breaking cycles of readmission. Robyn’s reflections are honest and inspiring, highlighting the privilege and challenge of helping young people navigate some of their darkest moments. This episode is a powerful reminder that mental health care is about more than protocols—it’s about relationships, trust, and the courage to rethink how we support the next generation.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the complex realities of inpatient child and adolescent mental health care, including the interplay of medical, developmental, and social factors.

2. Examine the ethical and clinical challenges of balancing necessary interventions (e.g., feeding under restraint) with the risk of retraumatization.

3. Explore how values such as respect, safety, and discovery can guide psychiatrists and care teams in minimizing harm and empowering young people.

4. Recognize the importance of supporting young people’s independence and preventing cycles of readmission by fostering recovery beyond the ward. 5. Reflect on how professional experiences and relational approaches shape evolving models of care for the most vulnerable patients.