The transition from secondary school to university is a defining milestone in a teenager’s life. It’s a time marked by newfound independence, academic challenges, and social shifts - often paired with a mix of excitement and anxiety. One of the most emotionally charged moments in this journey is Results Day. How parents and caregivers respond during this time can set the tone for a young person’s confidence and resilience moving forward.

This week’s Let’s all Talk Mental Health session focused on the unique challenges and opportunities summer can bring for families with neurodivergent teens. While the end of the school term may offer some relief, for many parents it also raises questions: How do we keep a sense of structure without overwhelm? How can we support rest, connection and fun while meeting different needs in the family? And what does it look like to prepare - gently and realistically – for the return to school in September, especially if your teen has been out of school or avoids it altogether?

This week’s Let’s all Talk Mental Health session tackled an issue that continues to concern many families: self-harm among teenagers. We were joined by Dr. Monika Parkinson, Chartered Clinical Psychologist and author of When Teens Self-Harm: How Parents, Teachers and Professionals Can Provide Calm and Compassionate Support. With over two decades of experience in the NHS, higher education, and private practice, Dr. Parkinson brought clarity, compassion, and practical advice to a complex and sensitive topic.

In this week’s Let’s All Talk Mental Health session, we were joined by Jessica Hawley, a specialist in teen mental health and CEO of The RAP Foundation, for a powerful and much-needed conversation about how to talk to teenagers about sex, consent, and healthy boundaries.

As Jessica reminded us, consent is not just a checkbox - it’s a lifelong concept rooted in respect, communication, and personal empowerment. In today’s hyper-connected world, where teens face a barrage of information (and misinformation), understanding consent is more critical than ever.

In this week’s Let’s all Talk Mental Health session, we were joined by Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sarah-Jane Knight. We talked to her about understanding and supporting teenagers with ADHD, whether they've been previously diagnosed or you’re simply noticing challenges with focus, impulsivity, or social interactions. Understanding how ADHD affects your adolescent is the first step toward offering meaningful support.

This week’s Let’s all Talk Mental Health session offered some great insight and perspective on one of the top worries for parents and carers: how to support and talk to teenagers on peer pressure, substance use, and social expectations.

Why do we need to be talking to our teens about this? Well, when 95% of 15–18-year-olds say vaping is everywhere among their friends, and 60% of 13–18-year-olds have come across drug content on social media, it’s clear it can’t be ignored. Our teens need open, informed conversations now more than ever.

How can parents support their neurodiverse teen’s emotional wellbeing and social development when they thrive in some areas, but struggle in others?

In this week’s session, we talked to Dr. Sheila Redfern,Author, Consultant Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Head of Family Trauma at the Anna Freud Centre, who has over 30 years’ experience supporting the mental health of children, young people, and families.

When your teen is struggling, it can be overwhelming. You want to be there for them, but knowing where to turn - and how to actually get the right help - can feel like a maze. CAMHS, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, plays a vital role in supporting young people, but for many parents, the process feels unclear. How do you access it? How long will it take? Will your child get the support they need, and when?

Teen emotional dysregulation can involve intense emotions such as anger, anxiety, and sadness and can often be misunderstood. We've all heard of the "moody teenager", but is that really what's going on or are there underlying neurological and developmental reasons for these behaviours?

Autism in teenagers can impact family life bringing some  challenges and some opportunities for deeper understanding. Autistic teens often experience the world differently, with differences in social communication, strong interests, and the need for routine - factors that can sometimes lead to stress within the family, especially when combined with transition into adolescence. These differences are not faults but simply a different way of experiencing the world.

Regrettably, research shows that over 200 young lives are lost to young suicide every year and so, with more teenagers being exposed to the reality of suicide through peers and social media, conversations around this sensitive topic could be literally life saving. This week, we were joined by the wonderful Dick Moore, ex-head teacher and teen mental health specialist, who sadly lost his son to suicide, to talk about recognising and responding to early warning signs and where concerned parents and carers can turn for help. 

Stress and anxiety around exams is a significant concern for teenagers and their families and navigating this time can feel difficult or overwhelming. Understanding the causes of exam stress can make all the difference in not only helping teenagers achieve, but also building their resilience and confidence. 

In this week’s session, we were joined by parenting expert and psychologist, Dr Maryhan, to talk about stress, burnout and mental health during exam periods, including how to keep teens calm but motivated throughout the season. 

Parenting teenagers is tough - strong emotions on both sides can make it hard to connect and get your message across. The key isn’t forcing your point, but finding ways to listen and communicate without overreacting. This week, we were joined by Dr. Sheila Redfern, a Consultant Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist at Redfern Psychology and Head of Trauma at Anna Freud, who shared practical tips on strengthening the parent-teen bond and finding better ways to communicate.

In today’s constantly evolving world, relationship and sex education (RSE) plays a hugely influential role in shaping how young people perceive and engage with the world around them. The importance of providing teenagers with comprehensive, non-judgemental education cannot be overstated, and helps them to build healthy relationships. But it’s not just at school, online, or from friends that young people learn about relationships and sex; it’s also through the important conversations we have at home. Parents and guardians have an important role in shaping how teens understand consent, boundaries, and emotional health, and their guidance can make all the difference when teens develop their own healthy and respectful relationships.

Understanding the emotional world of teenagers today can be difficult for parents. It’s not always easy to recognise the difference between typical teenage mood swings and something more serious, like depression. In this week’s session, Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sarah-Jane Knight, explained what signs to look out for and how parents and carers can best support teenagers struggling with their mood. 

Teen sleep is complicated - it’s not just about their changing biology and hormones, but also the worries and pressures they’re juggling, from school to social life. In this week’s session, research psychologist Dr. Faith Orchard shared valuable tips on building healthy sleep habits, while also shedding light on the challenges teens face in getting enough rest.

Teen anxiety is a multifaceted issue that affects many young individuals, and January can bring extra pressures - from school demands to self-image struggles, and the constant impact of social media. 

In our first session of the year, we talked to Dr Fran Boudour, a Clinical Psychologist specialising in children and young people, about the underlying causes, recognising the signs and what effective strategies parents can action to help teenagers navigate these challenges.