Being the parent of a teenager can be a lot of fun, often it’s challenging too, and sometimes the issues we are faced with can be complex and frightening. Something happens – perhaps a remark, a question, a discovery or a conversation – and it can feel as if our world has been turned upside down. We just don’t know what to do for the best.
In this series of short and practical videos we are tackling tough issues that can affect our teenagers and that we as parents can find complicated and confusing to deal with. Each episode contains down-to-earth advice and encouragement, and below each video we have provided details of places online that you can explore for further support.
A bit about our speakers:
Hannah Vincent has over twenty years of professional experience in pastoral care, working alongside teenagers and parents, and she now leads a large pastoral team in a secondary school. She is a Designated Safeguarding Officer, a Child Exploitation Online Protection Ambassador, a trained parenting course facilitator and an emergency mental health first aider.
Mark Chester is the Parent Support Manager at Care for the Family. He is the founder of Who Let The Dads Out? and has been writing and speaking about fatherhood for over 20 years. He has two grown-up children.
Self-harming
For further information and support:
Young Minds
A guide to what self-harm is, what the signs of self-harm are in a young person and where to get support:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/self-harm/
Young Minds also have a parents helpline and webchat service:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat/
Mental Health Foundation
A booklet about what self-harm is, what to do if you or someone you know is self-harming and how to get help:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/truth-about-self-harm
Eating disorders
For further information and support:
Young Minds
A guide for parents who are worried their child has an eating disorder or an unhealthy relationship with food:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/eating-problems/
NHS
NHS support if your child has been diagnosed with an eating disorder:
Gender identity
For further information and support:
NHS
NHS support if you think your child might be trans or non-binary:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/think-your-child-might-be-trans-or-non-binary/
Depression and suicidal thoughts
For further information and support:
Family Lives
Guidance for parents whose teenager is showing signs of depression:
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/teenagers/health-wellbeing/teenage-depression
Young Minds
A guide for parents who are worried their child might be struggling with suicidal thoughts. Ways to support them and places to get help:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/suicidal-thoughts
Reluctance to go to school
For further information and support:
Young Minds
A guide for parents whose child is anxious about school or whose mental health means they are unable to go to school:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/school-anxiety-and-refusal/
Action for Children
Advice for what you can do to support your child and family if your child won’t go to school:
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/education/school-university/coping-school-refusal/
