Watch on Demand: Session 6 of the NHS APA Conference 2025
- Daniel Newton
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
About the session
Welcome to the sixth session of the NHS APA Conference 2025. In this session, Dr Ermione Neophytou and Dr Kelly Charge will present on the topic: Rewriting the Story – Working with Children and Young People Who Use Substances.
Session Agenda
AAFS Context: An introduction to the Adolescent At-Risk & Forensic Service, explaining its role as a specialist mental health service within the NHS for young people with complex needs.
Scale of the Problem: A brief overview of substance use trends among young people, including prevalence rates and the shift from experimental to problematic use.
Experimental to Problematic Use: Exploration of the factors contributing to the progression from recreational use to dependency, including individual, family, and social influences.
Access & Availability: A discussion on how easily accessible substances are for young people, with insights from a young person named Sia on social media platforms like Telegram and TikTok.
Young People’s Experiences of Stigma: Personal stories and reflections from young people (Sia, Zach, and Tyler) about how stigma impacts their lives, relationships, and help-seeking behaviours.
How Can We Challenge These Narratives: A group discussion on ways to address and reduce stigma, emphasising the importance of safe spaces, non-judgemental approaches, and holding hope.
Group Reflections: Closing thoughts on the importance of understanding the whole person beyond their substance use and the role professionals play in challenging stigma.
Watch the session
