Brain-based parenting

There are two very important trends that parents should be mindful of when it comes to mental health in their preteens and teens. The first, is that mental illnesses have a peak age of onset of 15, and 75% of major mental health disorders such as depression and addiction begin before the age of 25. The second trend is that there has been a steady decline in mental health over the last two decades, meaning that more than ever, teens are even more vulnerable to mental illness.

The media often focuses on social media as the main driver of decreases in mental health in young people. However, a recent review of the evidence from the leading experts in the field, and published in one of the most prestigious academic journals in the world, shows the trend is complex and associated with multiple global issues such as rising intergenerational inequality, unemployment levels, stagnant wages, climate change as well as unregulated social media.

You may have seen references to a “youth mental health crisis” which refers to this phenomenon of increasing prevalence of mental health problems in the years associated with a transition to adulthood (teen years) and the lack of resources to deal with the problem. Mental illness accounts for a staggering 45% of the burden of disease in 10-24 year olds. 

The COVID pandemic is likely to have significantly contributed to these decreases in mental health in young people, who were the most affected in terms of distress levels of any age group,  and who had disproportionately negative outcomes. 

It is important to note that mental ill health and suicide risk is substantially higher in LGBTIQA+ and gender diverse teens, so early and open conversations about gender and sexual relationships is vitally important. 

If you want to know more about why preteens and teens are vulnerable to mental health problems and what we can do as parents to protect our teens, sign up to the ebook waiting list on teen brains below (Dr Amy Reichelt is now co-authoring with me and it is due in less than a month).

Getting ready for the return to school ….

The transition back to school after long breaks, particularly the summer holidays, are challenging for children and parents. Likewise, the start of the school from preschool or nursery brings a lot of uncertainty and anxiety around independence and readiness. The long, routine free summer gives way to more rules, routines and responsibilities for everyone and less time spent in the comfort of family and the home. 

I am preparing an ebook and TikTok series that will give you practical tools to make this transition easier and less stressful. I want to help you understand and manage anxiety and teach you how to deal with big emotions and the behaviours they may bring out in your kids. Get tips to ensure you are both school ready and ensure the school is ready for you. Set expectations and routines for your children, set healthy routines and ensure sleep hygiene to set you up for a successful school year. Sign up in the link below for the new school year.

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