What might help?
Be flexible and creative about how you communicate with your child as they grow older – any conversation is better than no conversation. Continue to let them know you are someone they can trust.
Take comfort from knowing that your teenager’s behaviour towards you isn’t personal, and that their ability to think rationally, make good judgements and feel empathy is lowered during adolescence.
Most young people don’t find teenage years easy! Cast your mind back – did you? Try to remind yourself though, that their brains are busy undergoing important changes and that they need to break away from the family to grow into an independent adult.
Get to know what pushes your buttons and what pushes theirs. Try to avoid these ‘push button’ situations or practise walking away when things get heated if you can.
Still worried and concerned?
Because our teenagers’ behaviour is changing so much and can be unusual it might be hard to know whether to be alarmed or concerned. And it can also be hard to know if and at what point you or your teenager might need extra support with behaviours that you find upsetting or troubling. Certainly, if their behaviour or what they are telling you is concerning over a prolonged period of time it could be time to talk this through with someone on a helpline or to seek some support for them (and you).
Take a look at our What’s in North Yorkshire for me? page to see what support is on offer locally, or browse the suggested links below. You may also be interested in our Sexual Health page, for information on what sexual health services are available in North Yorkshire.
Sleep Support Service
New sleep support workshops for North Yorkshire families
The way sleep support is provided for children and young people in North Yorkshire is changing.
The current one-to-one sleep support offer is moving to online group workshops, helping the service to support more families within the available capacity.
The workshops will provide parents and carers with practical sleep information and strategies, with online follow-up drop-in sessions available after the workshop.
How to access the workshops
Families can access the offer by completing the referral form. Once the form has been submitted, workshop information and an invitation will be sent directly to the parent/carer.
Families can also find further information, advice and resources to help with sleep on The Sleep Charity website.
Things you might find useful
So your child is turning 18?
How do mental health services change when your child becomes an adult? Moving from CAMHS to AMHS.
Visit Mind website
The adolescent brain and what parents can do
Neurologist Judy Willis explains how the brain develops during adolescence and shares advice for parents on reckless behaviour and risk taking.
View on YouTube
Talking mental health with young people
A guide for parents and carers from Anna Freud Centre about talking to young people at secondary school about mental health.
Visit Anna Freud website
Relate - on teens
Lots of practical advice on how to deal with common teen issues.
Visit Relate website
You are not alone
Guide from Dept of Psychiatry for parents who are coping with their child’s self-harm.
Visit University of Oxford website
Facing shadows
A short animation from Anna Freud Centre describing what it is like to suffer from depression as a teenager.
View on YouTube
Reading well
Recommends books for children and teens about mental health.
Visit Reading Well website
Mermaids
Mermaids is a national organisation which supports children and young people up to 19 years old with gender identity issues, and their families, and professionals involved in their care.
Visit Mermaids website
Young people and vaping
Vaping is not for children and young people. Parents and carers can make sure young people understand the health facts about vaping and know about vaping and the law.
Visit NHS website
Sleep support for teens
The Teen Sleep Hub offers support, videos and eBooks to help parents and carers support their teens. Call the national sleep helpline, number below.
Visit Teen Sleep Hub website Call 03303 530 541