The ACAMH Awards aim to recognise high quality work in evidence based science, both in publication and practice, in the field of child and adolescent mental health. To be nominated for an ACAMH Award is a prestigious recognition of those who are at the forefront of the advancement of child and adolescent mental health research, and practice.
Listed below are the winners and nominees from the ACAMH awards 2024. Congratulations to all winners and nominees. If you would like to receive details about the ACAMH 2025 Awards, please email awards@acamh.org
Lifetime Contribution Award
Michael Rutter Medal for Lifetime Contribution to Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Winner: Emeritus Professor Philip Graham
You can watch the full keynote here.
Educator Award
David Cottrell ‘Education of CAMH Professionals’ Award
Criteria: Someone who has had a significant impact upon the education or training of child and adolescent mental health professionals. This is open to all disciplines, but education or training must relate to children’s mental health.
Winner: Dr. Georgia Pavlopoulou
Winner: Dr. Niki Cooper
Shortlist Nominees: Dr. Seonaid Anderson, Neuro-diverse.org, Dr. Niki Cooper, Place2Be, Dr. Georgia Pavlopoulou, Anna Freud Centre and University College London, Dr. Jodie Rawlings and Dr. Vanessa Puetz, Anna Freud Centre and University College London, Dr. Meinou Simmons, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Rising Star Award
Kathy Sylva ‘Rising Star’ Award
Criteria: Please note that this award cannot be self nominated. Open to any person who has made a significant scientific contribution to child and adolescent mental health literature, within 10 years of their first peer reviewed journal publication.
Winner: Dr. Isabell Brikell
Shortlist Nominees: Dr. Alessio Bellato, University of Southampton, UK, Dr. Isabell Brikell, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Dr. Josefien Breedvelt, King’s College London, Dr. Alex Kwong, University of Edinburgh, Dr. Giorgia Michelini, Queen Mary, University of London, Dr. Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
Team Award
Lionel Hersov Memorial Award
Criteria: A practice team that has demonstrated the use of evidence base (research, audit or service evaluation) into clinical practice. Or a team that has evaluated the outcome or measures either the clinical impact or demonstrated quality improvement (can be efficiencies of time, money or reduced ‘waste’). The nominations will be accepted from researchers, investigators, clinicians, and educationalists.
Winner: Hampshire CAMHS Eating Disorder Team (SHFT)
Highly Commended: Children and Young People’s Primary Care Mental Health Service
Shortlist Nominees: Children and Young People’s Primary Care Mental Health Service, South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust, Hampshire CAMHS Eating Disorder Team (SHFT), Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Next Step Cards Team, Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, St. Mary’s Ukrainian School Trauma Recovery Team, St Mary’s Ukrainian School, The Lucena Clinic Hub team, Lucena Clinic CAMHS Hub
Research Into Practice
Eric Taylor ‘Translational Research Into Practice’ Award
Criteria: An individual with a sustained contribution to translating research into practice over a number of years, whose work involves both research, and either clinical or educational involvement in practice. And/or a researcher or clinician who has published translational science (evidence base into practice) with evidence of impact on clinical service provision. This could involve the establishment of new interventions, or improvement of existing ones, with evidence of impact on clinical service provision.
Winner: Professor Boris Birmaher
Highly Commended: Professor Dr. Christina Stadler
Highly Commended: Professor Dr. Julian Koenig
Shortlist Nominees: Professor Boris Birmaher, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Shelley Gilbert, GRIEF DOCTOR, Professor Dr. Julian Koenig, University of Cologne, Dr. Trilby Langton, NHS and Private Practice, Professor Dennis Ougrin, Queen Mary’s University London, Professor Dr. Christina Stadler, University Psychiatric Clinics Basel
Team Award
Innovative Research, Training or Practice in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) Award
Criteria: Team based in a country classified by the World Bank as LMICs* in the preceding year, and whose work involve research, clinical or educational activities in that country. The work shows innovation in research, training, or practice/service delivery in child and adolescent mental health.
Winner: The Asido Foundation, Nigeria
Winner: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
Highly Commended: Mr Yadeta Alemayehu Workneh
Shortlist Nominees: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India, The Adolescent Mental Health Unit (AMHU), National Mental Hospital, Lagankhel, Lalitpur, Nepal, The Asido Foundation, Asido Foundation, Nigeria, Mr Yadeta Alemayehu Workneh, Mattu University
* Eligible countries; Afghanistan, Angola, Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Link to World Bank
Best Paper Award
‘Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry’ Best Paper Award
Criteria: The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry best paper award is chosen by the editors of the JCPP. Papers are eligible if they have been published in the journal in 2022. The winning and shortlisted original articles are chosen based on a range of criteria including scope, relevance and study design.
Winner: Open Access ‘Sleep influences daily suicidal ideation through affective reactivity to interpersonal events among high-risk adolescents and young adults’, (Vol. 64, Iss. 1). Jessica L. Hamilton, Aliona Tsypes, Jamie Zelazny, Craig J.R. Sewall, Noelle Rode, John Merranko, David A. Brent, Tina R. Goldstein, Peter L. Franzen
Shortlist Nominees: Open Access ‘One session treatment (OST) is equivalent to multi-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in children with specific phobias (ASPECT): results from a national non-inferiority randomized controlled trial’, (Vol. 64, Iss. 1). Barry Wright, Lucy Tindall, Alexander J. Scott, Ellen Lee, Cindy Cooper, Katie Biggs, Penny Bee, Han-I Wang, Lina Gega, Emily Hayward, Kiera Solaiman, M. Dawn Teare, Thompson Davis, Jon Wilson, Karina Lovell, Dean McMillan, Amy Barr, Hannah Edwards, Jennifer Lomas, Chris Turtle, Steve Parrott, Catarina Teige, Tim Chater, Rebecca Hargate, Shezhad Ali, Sarah Parkinson, Simon Gilbody, David Marshall, Open Access ‘Phenomenology of gender dysphoria in autism: a multiperspective qualitative analysis’, (Vol. 64, Iss. 2). Kate Cooper, William Mandy, Catherine Butler, Ailsa Russell, Open Access ‘Sleep influences daily suicidal ideation through affective reactivity to interpersonal events among high-risk adolescents and young adults’, (Vol. 64, Iss. 1). Jessica L. Hamilton, Aliona Tsypes, Jamie Zelazny, Craig J.R. Sewall, Noelle Rode, John Merranko, David A. Brent, Tina R. Goldstein, Peter L. Franzen, Original Article ‘Tonic and phasic irritability in 6-year-old children: differential correlates and outcomes’, (Vol. 64, Iss. 2). Jamilah Silver, Daniel M. Mackin, Sara J. Bufferd, Lea R. Dougherty, Brandon L. Goldstein, Gabrielle A. Carlson, Daniel N. Klein
‘JCPP Advances’ Best Paper Award
Criteria: The JCPP Advances best paper award is chosen by the editors of the JCPP Advances. Papers are eligible if they have been published in the journal in 2022. The winning and shortlisted original articles are chosen based on a range of criteria including scope, relevance and study design.
Winner: Open Access ‘Sleep parameters and problems in adolescents with and without ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, (Vol. 3, Iss. 3). Finja Marten, Lena Keuppens, Dieter Baeyens, Bianca E. Boyer, Marina Danckaerts, Samuele Cortese, Saskia Van der Oord
Shortlist Nominees: Open Access ‘IQ trajectories in autistic children through preadolescence’, (Vol. 3, Iss. 1). Marjorie Solomon, An-Chuen (Billy) Cho, Ana-Maria Iosif, Brianna Heath, Apurv Srivastav, Christine Wu Nordahl, Emilio Ferrer, David Amaral, Open Access ‘Sleep parameters and problems in adolescents with and without ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, (Vol. 3, Iss. 3). Finja Marten, Lena Keuppens, Dieter Baeyens, Bianca E. Boyer, Marina Danckaerts, Samuele Cortese, Saskia Van der Oord, Open Access ‘Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties associated with persistent speech disorder in children: A prospective population study’ (Vol. 3, Iss. 1). Yvonne Wren, Emma Pagnamenta, Faith Orchard, Tim J. Peters, Alan Emond, Kate Northstone, Laura Louise Miller, Susan Roulstone, Open Access ‘The typical and atypical development of empathy: How big is the gap from lab to field?’, (Vol. 3, Iss. 1). Chiara Bulgarelli, Emily J. H. Jones
‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health Journal’ Best Paper Award
Criteria: The Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) journal best paper award is chosen by the editors of the CAMH journal. Papers are eligible if they have been published in the journal in 2022. The winning and shortlisted original articles are chosen based on a range of criteria including scope, relevance and study design.
Winner: Original Article ‘Digital self-harm and suicidality among adolescents’, (Vol. 28, Iss. 1). Justin W. Patchin, Sameer Hinduja, Ryan C. Meldrum
Shortlist Nominees: Original Article ‘Digital self-harm and suicidality among adolescents’, (Vol. 28, Iss. 1). Justin W. Patchin, Sameer Hinduja, Ryan C. Meldrum, Open Access ‘Review: Meta-analysis on mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents’ stress, depression, and anxiety in school settings: a cautionary tale’, (Vol. 28, Iss. 2). Nilija Fulambarkar, Brian Seo, Alanna Testerman, Mitchell Rees, Kim Bausback, Eduardo Bunge, Open Access ‘Review: Which components of behavioral parent and teacher training work for children with ADHD? – a metaregression analysis on child behavioral outcomes’, (Vol. 28, Iss. 2). Rianne Hornstra, Annabeth P. Groenman, Saskia van der Oord, Marjolein Luman, Tycho J. Dekkers, Lianne van der Veen-Mulders, Pieter J. Hoekstra, Barbara J. van den Hoofdakker
Digital Innovation Awards
Digital Innovation Award for Best Digital Intervention
Criteria: A clinician who has put evidence base into practice within the information/data/IT/digital fields of child and adolescent mental health. This could be the use of information or technologies in the delivery of care or service design etc.
Winner: Dr. Thomas Gargot
Highly Commended: Dr. Debbie Plant
Shortlist Nominees: Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, University of Ottawa, Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Deanna Francis, Black Dog Institute, Dr. Thomas Gargot, University Hospital of Tours, Dr. Debbie Plant, SLaM, Dr. Hannah Wilson, Kooth Digital Health
Digital Innovation Award for Best Research on Digital Impact
Criteria: A researcher who has published the best paper on an information/data/IT/digital topic relating to child and adolescent mental health, which can include online assessment innovations.
Winner: Professor Amit Baumel
Highly Commended: Dr. Richard Lamb
Shortlist Nominees: Professor Amit Baumel, University of Haifa, Dr. Stephane de Brito, University of Birmingham, Dr. Yasser Saeed Khan, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, Dr. Richard Lamb, University of Georgia, Dr. Felipe Siston, University of Brasília
Trainee Awards
Postgraduate Research Trainee of the Year Award
Criteria: Trainee or student who is less than two years post PhD who has shown initiative or made a significant contribution to child and adolescent mental health.
Winner: Dr. Scarlett Smout
Highly Commended: Dr. Lucinda Grummitt
Shortlist Nominees: Dr. Jules Dugré, University of Birmingham, Dr. Lucinda Grummitt, The University of Sydney, Dr. Tyler McFayden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ms Scarlett Smout, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Dr. Alice Wickersham, CAMHS Digital Lab, King’s College London
Research Trainee of the Year Award
Criteria: Open to any individual undertaking postgraduate training as a practitioner working with children in relation to mental health from any background (e.g. clinical psychology, educational psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry). This could include candidates currently in a clinical training working towards a professional qualification, or teaching, for example, an individual undertaking an MEd who is able to demonstrate a clear commitment to evidence-based clinical practice.
Winner: Dr. Asilay Seker
Highly Commended: Dr. Victor Pereira-Sanchez
Shortlist Nominees: Dr. Victor Pereira-Sanchez, Columbia University, Dr. Asilay Seker, King’s College London and South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Mrs Delshad Shroff, Virginia Tech, Mrs Jenna Sung, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Eibhlin Walsh, National Suicide Research Foundation
Clinical Trainee of the Year Award
Criteria: Open to an individual undertaking their first qualification as a practitioner working with children in relation to mental health from any background (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy, physio) and working towards a clinical qualification and who demonstrates a clear commitment to evidence based clinical practice.
Winner: Miss Emelia Pasternak- Albert
Highly Commended: Miss Denisse Zepeda
Shortlist Nominees: Miss Emelia Pasternak-Albert, King’s College London GKT School of Medical Education/University of Cambridge, Miss Denisse Zepeda, U-TTEC Lab at the University of Utah
Special Thanks
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Luis Rodrigues Rocha who took on the SAS Fan Dance challenge, on 15-16 June, in support of ACAMH. We are honoured and humbled that Luis is raised funds for ACAMH.