It is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year, the 2025 theme is Community! It is a word that feels more important than ever. As a parent of teenage girls I’ve came to realise just how much community matters when it comes to supporting not only their mental health but mine too. We all need a little help sometimes!
Raising teenagers and being there for young adults is no small task! There is so much pressure on them now with social media, academic pressure, body image struggles and friendship dramas. Then throw in anxiety, mood swings, occasional slamming of doors and the eternal "I’m fine" when you know full well they’re not. It can feel overwhelming but we're not in it alone and that’s where community comes in!
When we think of the word community we often imagine neighbours, schools or local groups and it can be those things but community is also about connection, the people you lean on, the ones who understand, the ones who remind you you’re not failing when everything feels like a mess.
As a parent over the years my community has included:
Other mums at the school gate who’ve whispered, "Mine’s the same. It’s not just you." It was such a reassurance to know I wasn't in this parenting lark alone.
Online groups on blogs where parents share their worries, wins and occasional cries in the car. It is good to connect with real people who are going through the same things.
Teachers, youth workers and counsellors who’ve taken the time to see my girls for who they are!
And, surprisingly even the girls themselves when they open up and remind me just how strong, insightful and emotionally intelligent this generation can be.
Teens and young adults today are navigating a minefield of emotional challenges. Social media has given them access to constant comparison, unrealistic beauty standards and the pressure to be on it all the time. It has caused no end of drama, worry and stress for my family over the years, sometimes I do wish I could just take it away from them. In the past I have but they are at an age now where they are more sensible in how they use it and realise that not everything they read and see online is true. Then you add in the stress of school, college friendships, hormones and a world that feels increasingly uncertain, it’s really no wonder they’re struggling!
As a mum, I’ve had late night chats that started with “I’m just tired” and turned into deep heart to hearts where everything has came pouring out. I’ve watched my girls spiral from small worries into big anxieties and I’ve felt helpless, wanting to take away their pain but not always knowing how. That’s why community is so important because when our kids feel supported, connected and safe they cope better and when we feel supported, we’re able to help them more!
Community starts in the home. We’re their first safe space for out teenagers and young adults even if they sometimes act like we’re the last people they want to talk to. Here are a few things we try in my home:
Open conversations! Not just asking how was your day but what’s been on your mind lately or has anything felt tricky today? Anything can be talked about here!
We have a no judgement zone! I remind them and myself that it’s okay to feel angry, sad, confused or just “meh. All those feelings that we feel are valid!
Celebrate the small wins! Getting out of bed on a tough day, speaking up in class, sending a tricky message to a friend all of those things matter and if they bring a positive result they are a win!
Encourage rest! Not every hour needs to be productive, we all need some down time!
Model self care! I try to show them what taking care of myself looks like whether that’s saying no, taking a walk or doing something just because it makes me happy!
While we’re busy trying to be our teenagers and young adults rocks, we often forget that we need support too. Parenting teens can be lonely at times especially when you don't have that connection with other mums at the school gates. It was so much easier when they were little and I would speak to other mums, now I don't know the parents of my daughters friends as I am not at the school gates.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a good excuse to reach out and reconnect. Maybe it’s checking in with another parent you haven’t heard from in a while, maybe it’s attending a workshop or finding a podcast or book that speaks to you, about what you are experiencing! Connecting with other parents even if it’s just in a online group can be a lifeline.
The more we talk about parenting and mental health the less alone we all feel. This week is a reminder that we don’t have to do this parenting thing in isolation. We’re allowed to ask for help, we’re allowed to not have all the answers and we’re allowed to admit when we’re struggling. Our teenagers and young adults are watching us more closely than we realise. When they see us leaning on others, building supportive friendships, talking honestly about mental health it gives them permission to do the same.
If you’re struggling, please know you’re not alone. There’s support available and it’s okay to ask for it. Whether it’s a GP, a therapist, a local support group or a charity helpline help is out there and it can get better!
Some useful links:
YoungMinds offers Mental health advice, guides, blogs and a find help tool. Great for both young people and parents.
The Mix offers articles, discussion boards, live chat, and a crisis messenger for under-25s.
Kooth offers free, anonymous online counselling and support. Available through most UK postcodes.
Papyrus for suicide prevention in young people, it offers support for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide and for parents/carers.
