Why Childhood Mental Health Is Declining - A Psychotherapist’s Warning

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Childhood mental health issues are rising — but what’s really going on beneath the surface?

“We’re pathologising kids before we’re listening to them.”

In this episode of The True Form Podcast, I sit down with Professor Kosmas Smyrnios — a former child and adolescent psychotherapist turned academic — to unpack what’s really happening with the rise in childhood mental health issues.

With over 30 years of experience in psychotherapy, research, and education, Professor Smyrnios brings a rare dual lens: clinical depth and academic insight.

We explore:
– Why emotional distress in kids is often mislabelled as a disorder
– How modern systems are failing both children and parents
– What’s changed in diagnosis and treatment across generations
– Why safety, connection, and presence matter more than ever
– What parents, educators, and practitioners need to rethink

From community mental health centres to lecture halls, Professor Smyrnios has guided families, taught students, and mentored over 30 PhD candidates. His work connects therapy, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking, and this conversation might change the way you think about childhood altogether.

🎧 Watch or listen now — and share it with someone raising or working with children.

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