For Parents & Carers
Most parents who find their way here are somewhere in the middle of something. A new diagnosis, a school that's not coping, a child who seems to be struggling in ways that are hard to name. (Some of you have been in the middle of it for a while.) We've put these sheets together to give you something useful to read when the questions start stacking up. Not everything will land, but something might.
Understanding Depression in Young People
Depression in young people is more than sadness or a difficult week. It is a mood condition that can affect energy, motivation, sleep, appetite, concentration, and the way a young person sees themselves and the world around them. It often looks different in children and teenagers than it does in adults, and it can go unnoticed for a long time, sometimes mistaken for laziness, moodiness, or ‘just a phase’. If you are worried about your child, your instinct matters. This guide is here to help you make sense of what you may be seeing and how to respond.
Supporting School Refusal
School refusal is when a child experiences significant distress about going to school and struggles to attend or stay there regularly. School refusal is not about defiance or laziness. Most children who reject school actually do want to attend but often feel overwhelmed or unable to cope. School refusal is usually linked to anxiety or emotional distress, rather than behavioural problems.