Depression in young people is increasing at alarming rates globally. Depression can be understood as a natural response to overwhelming stress in the absence of sufficient resources and solutions. Young people of today face unprecedented challenges linked to the current meta-crisis, such as existential threats due to the climate collapse & pandemics, social exclusion & loneliness reinforced by social media & extreme performance pressures in competitive systems. Here, the mechanisms driving the increased rates of depression are clarified in detail, and also how we can support, heal and empower.

An introduction to the basic principles of TARA and the research behind it. TARA is a group-based program to promote wellbeing, empowerment and contextual orientation for young people with depression. The program will soon be offered in two versions:

The first one is aimed at a global community and introduces the core principles and tools of TARA, and support local adaptations that are relevant to the specific cultural and social contexts of the participants. The second format is a full facilitator training intended for professionals in the field of mental health which leads to certification as a TARA trainer. More information will be available soon.

Here the mechanism and principles of modern trauma therapy are explained and how cognitive developmental neuroscience have given us the foundations to develop new ways to address mental suffering. The teachings are informed by the scientific literature, my own research and from Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing and trauma focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (tf-CBT). I focus on the underlying mechanisms and rather than teaching the psychotherapeutic methods themselves. 

Here the focus is on the principles behind psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, including approaches such as MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy, which involves the use of low doses of cannabis or ketamine. Here the psychological mechanisms at work are highlighted, along with the potential benefits and risks for different client populations. I also address key challenges related to altered states of consciousness—such as shifts in metaphysical beliefs, ontological changes, and the strong transference and countertransference dynamics that can arise. Ethical and safety considerations are a central part of this work. In addition, integration processes and principles of harm reduction are discussed.

These lectures are rooted in forty years of yoga, breath-work, and contemplative practices and from my own research on autonomic and emotion regulation. They are also shaped by a broader body of literature and many different teachers. I  explore the roots of modern Hatha yoga and how these foundations have been modified and changed for wellness, therapeutic, and commercial contexts —and why those changes matter. I talk about the physiological and therapeutic mechanisms of practices such as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and various forms of breath-work. 

The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) explores how negative operations of power influence our lives, the types of threat responses they trigger, and the coping strategies we develop in response. It highlights the connection between broader social factors—such as poverty, discrimination, and inequality—and the emotional distress or challenging behaviours that may arise as a result. Together with a group of colleagues, we have translated the PTMF overview document to Swedish. Both the Swedish translation and the original English version are available for download at www.bps.org.uk.
The framework is structured around four key questions:
1. What has happened to you? 
2. How did it affect you? 
3. What sense did you make of it? 
4. What did you have to do to survive? 
PTMF can help people make sense of their experiences in ways that reduce shame, fear, and self-blame by shifting their focus from "what is wrong with me?" to "what has happened to me?" 

                                                   I take the opportunity to share a deeper analysis here:

During the past three decades I have witnessed how Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) in Sweden has changed from a family system oriented and bio-, psycho- socially informed field, to the introduction of the DSM-system, neuropsychiatry and hypermedicalization. Alongside these changes CAP has been organized to become more effective in producing healthcare. The goal of this new public management model is to treat as many patients possible at the lowest cost possible. Consequently, what counts in the current reimbursement models is how many patients are being seen, not if they get well or how well they are cared for. It is unfortunate, that this change in Swedish health economics has been implemented in CAP without any systematic evaluation of whether the treatment outcomes have improved – I fear they have not.

Instead, this “production model” of healthcare has had serious consequences. Stable, trusting relationships between children, families, and caregivers have been eroded or lost. CAP patients seldom get to see the same doctor more than once. Continuity, care, empowerment and sensitivity for the complexities of human life have been sacrificed. I have deep respect for many of my colleagues who continue to do their best in this challenging environment. Their job is increasingly difficult and their ethical stress increases as more and more young people are seeking care and treatment. As mental health needs grow among youth, waiting times stretch—sometimes to over a year—before they can access specialized care.

Some of the fundamental principles and assumptions behind current CAP practices need to be addressed. One is the descriptive and symtom based diagnoses of the DSM-system. They rarely tell us anything about the causes of the suffering. The DSM-diagnoses are also not reliable in this age-group and many diagnoses include similar symptoms, with the result that young people often have multiple diagnoses. Developmental stages and the broader context of the patients are not fully considered in this model either. Another false assumption is that mental distress is framed as a disease or disorder, when in many cases, it is a completely understandable response to overwhelming life circumstances.

This biomedical approach has contributed to a dramatic rise in the prescription of psychiatric medications for young people, despite limited evidence of long-term benefits—and sometimes severe side effects. Medication can be helpful and necessary, but I believe we have gone too far in relying on it as a primary response. Our current methods are limited in their effectiveness, and research shows they have not significantly improved over recent decades. Psychiatric drugs do not "cure" mental health issues—they may reduce symptoms for a time, but often at a cost.  

Furthermore, contextual and relational factors preceding the onset of mental suffering are often overlooked. Chronic stress and overwhelming experiences result in threat responses that may be misunderstood as psychiatric disease. Common examples of such chronic stressors are the current polarisation and increased tensions between subcultures and the tightening definition of “normal”, that pushes many young people to the margins, with increased mental suffering as a result. The COVID-19 lockdowns revealed the cost of loneliness and isolation, with depression rates in young people doubling during the pandemic.

We now know how early adversity and trauma shape brain development in ways that affect emotion regulation and the way we relate and behave. These effects are not limited to a single diagnosis—they are transdiagnostic, and depend on the age, duration, and nature of the trauma. Research is very clear on the causal link between childhood trauma and many (not all) of the symptoms presented in CAP. Still, our system has yet to fully implement screening and treatment for trauma-related symptoms. Therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) show promise, but are not widely available in CAP.

Other helpful approaches are also underutilized. My own and others research has shown that mindfulness and yoga practices can help many young people improve self-regulation and resilience, yet these approached are not included in our clinical guidelines. Knowledge from functional medicine, which explores how nutrition, gut health, and micronutrients interact and impact mental well-being, is still missing in standard care.

Finally, there is a mismatch between what CAP can offer and the real-life challenges many young people face. The social, relational, economic, and environmental stressors that often cause mental health symptoms lie outside the reach of psychiatric interventions. This situation implicates that family, school and community support may be the most important factors to decrease mental suffering and promote health in young people. Within CAP, we have little mandate to engage with these broader social dimensions. It is also hard to create change within CAP, as many forces are at play to maintain status quo. In addition, to reach young people and their communities through academic channels alone is not a successful strategy.

My aim is to contribute to an updated and contextually relevant understanding about what actually causes mental health suffering in young people - perhaps in all of us – and what we can do about it. I wish to help empower young people and support them with the tools they need to stay healthy and resiliant, while reclaiming their future. I believe it is important to talk openly about the current problems within CAP, what is in the way for change and promote well researched alternatives and relevant support.