How familiar are you with your teens alcohol and drug habits? Or perhaps they don’t touch them… I share why teens drink alcohol and take drugs, how it affects their brain and 10 steps to stop them using alcohol and drugs.

A few years ago now, I received a phone call from my teenage son that we all dread as parents: on the other end of the line and unable to form a coherent sentence,, my eldest son said, “Jack can’t stand up”, he said.  “Can you...

One of the biggest issues for parents of teens is figuring out what’s “normal” teenage behaviour and when their child might need some extra support. I  talk to parenting expert, blogger, podcaster and influencer, Helen Wills, about how parents can support teenagers through the many different challenges that they face during adolescence. We also touch on another big issue for midlife mums, which can be just as confusing and challenging as parenting a teenager: noticing...

Let’s be honest. We all get angry from time to time and that’s because it is a completely normal emotion — not something terrible, just a normal feeling.

When our children begin the slow transition to adulthood, many of them, particularly boys, can struggle more with anger. It is important to keep in mind that anger is not the problem — it is a symptom of a deeper problem or challenge. When we have a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to the...

Teenagers need role models. What you do, how you act and behave, as a parent or carer has a massive influence over your teenager’s attitudes, behaviour and choices. You are their most important role models. With the many influences that surround your teen in the digital and real world, it's important to be the best role model you can be for them. They look to you for answers, guidance and protection. By being your best self and being more aware of your own actions and words, you can...

Comedy and mental health don’t seem like natural bedfellows, but there is really good evidence that laughter triggers the release of endorphins  boosting our mood and mental well-being. I talk to comedian and mental health ambassador Juliette Burton about the relationship between comedy and mental health and how she’s using her stand up shows to educate the world about mental health.

We often think that people can only become addicted to drugs and alcohol. But addiction shows up in any behaviour that a person enjoys, finds some relief in, and therefore craves more of in the short term, but suffers negative consequences in the long term, and doesn’t give up this behaviour despite the negative consequences of their actions.

Addiction can be related to any behaviour, not just substances. It could be cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, nicotine, alcohol. But could...

Childhood evokes images of innocence, joy, optimism and wonder. It is a time of security and safety, where you are unconditionally protected, nurtured and loved. Having stability in knowing you are safe and having a secure attachment with your family allows you to form healthy and safe relationships later in life.

But, sadly, the reality of many young people’s experiences and the effect on the rest of their lives is in stark contrast to this description of childhood. Many young people...

Day to day ups and downs are are a normal part of adolescence, making it difficult to distinguish between normal teenage moodiness and more serious mental health challenges. Your teen might not always be able to articulate what they’re going through, and they might not want to talk about it to you, but starting the conversation with them will help to protect their mental well-being.

Adolescence is time of enormous change for young people. Their bodies are changing, their...

Clothes left in the bathroom, lids left off things, cups of tea made back at the beginning of the year, plates that seem to be growing some sort of fungi and glasses that you thought had been broken months ago. Why don't our teenage children care about being tidy?

The unbelievable untidiness of teens is a real bug bear for many parents, myself included. For many parents, it just doesn’t make any sense. Why wouldn’t you want to clear up after yourself and have a well...