We are investigating how to adapt talking-therapy for treating anxiety and depression for young people who have language and communication difficulties. Young people with language disorder are at increased risk of developing anxiety and depression, and as many as two thirds of young people entering mental health services have language disorder. First line treatments for anxiety and depression rely heavily on spoken language, making them inaccessible for young people with language disorder, yet there is currently no research looking at how to adapt therapy delivery for this vulnerable group. This project will offer insights into the language barriers that prevent young people with language disorder from engaging with talking-therapies, and provide practical, evidence-based guidance to overcome these barriers. We are building a team includes young people with language disorder, speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists to ensure that the research is guided by lived experience and that our findings can be translated directly into practice. This work has the potential to benefit other groups of young people who face barriers accessing talking- therapy, such as young people receiving therapy in their second language. This project is funded by a Prudence Trust research fellowship to Dr Sarah Griffiths.
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