MQ Open Mind · MQ Mental Health Research

Dr. Martha Deiros Collado & Gaining Insight Into Your Child

·47 min·4 clips

A teacher told 16-year-old Marta she thought like a psychologist, sparking her journey into child mental health.

This episode of MQ Open Mind features hosts Rory O'Connor and Craig in conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Marta Deiros-Collado, who specializes in child and adolescent mental health. Dr. Deiros-Collado has 18 years of NHS experience and recently published her first parenting book, *How to Be the Grown-Up*. She also shares child development advice with over 250,000 followers on Instagram, a platform she began using during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion covers her career path, which shifted from an initial interest in medicine to psychology after a teacher's encouragement. Her doctoral research at St. Thomas's Hospital examined a heterogeneous peer support group for children with various chronic health conditions, finding the mix of conditions fostered motivation and celebrated individual strengths. Dr. Deiros-Collado also completed family therapy training at the Tavistock, describing systemic practice as a philosophy focusing on how broader systems like culture and society influence individuals. She identifies a significant research gap regarding the mental health impact on siblings of children with chronic illnesses, noting existing support services often feel disjointed. Another key research question she raises concerns the long-term effect of smartphones and instant gratification on adolescent brain development, particularly the slow-maturing prefrontal cortex. A memorable insight is her view that good parenting is "messy and safe," centered on repairing relationship ruptures rather than achieving perfection. She emphasizes that adults often struggle to offer genuine apologies to children, which is a crucial skill. Dr. Deiros-Collado's book aims to make child development common knowledge to foster greater public compassion, like during a child's public tantrum. She argues that understanding developmental stages can reduce parental anxiety and judgment from others. The book also addresses parental mental health, advising parents to seek help when basic functioning is impaired and encouraging communities to proactively "reach in" to offer support. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal anecdotes with professional expertise from clinical practice and research. The style is accessible, with the hosts and guest sharing relatable stories, such as Rory's stressful experience traveling with a toddler. This episode would appeal to parents, caregivers, and anyone interested in child psychology, family dynamics, or the intersection of social media and adolescent development. Listeners seeking highly technical, data-heavy research discussions or those uninterested in parenting topics might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

An accessible, research-aware look at parenting, child mental health, and the support systems around them.

This episode frames parenting as a practical, research-led conversation, with Dr. Marta Deiros-Callado drawing on clinical experience in child and young people's mental health.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a research-minded parenting listen, start here.

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