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Supporting your child through anxiety, anger or worry
As parents and caregivers, we naturally worry about our children – from what they’re eating, to how much screen time they have and how they’re getting on with friends. We want them to be as healthy and as happy as they can be. So, when they’re not, how do we help?
Emotions like worry, anxiety, fear and anger are normal for humans. However, when they start to prevent us from feeling calm in everyday life, we need to look at what emotional needs aren’t being met to find out why we’re feeling like that. By identifying what needs are unmet, we can start to explore the causes, and only then can we work to improve them.
The facts and figures
- At the moment, at least one in four adults will experience a mental health challenge at some point each year*
- In 2023, around one in five children and young people, aged 8-25, had a mental health difficulty, rising from previous years.**
- School absences have risen following the pandemic, and continued absenteeism remains a problem in both primary and secondary schools across England compared with pre-pandemic levels. It’s also a big issue for parents and families of children who are struggling to attend school***
- Across the UK, 28% of 12 to 18-year-olds have not attended school at some point over the last year due to anxiety, with many staying away because they felt unable to cope****
What can parents do?
Parents and caregivers have amazing instincts to care for and protect their children. They are also the ones who usually know their children best. But sometimes, we get stuck. You may feel like you’re not sure what to do for the best, or you feel you’ve tried it all and nothing is really changing. You may have a child who experiences angry outbursts or Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), and you’re not sure what to try.
- Go easy on yourself. Remember that you are doing your best
- Be a listening ear for your children. If you offer a safe, non-judgemental space, they may feel more confident in opening up. Watch our video about reflective listening
- Learn about our Emotional Needs & Resources. We all have a set of emotional needs to keep balanced in order to stay well. We’re born with those needs and we’re also born with the resources in us to meet those needs. It’s a great way to talk to your children about how they’re feeling and what might help them feel calm and balanced
How Suffolk Mind is trying to help
Suffolk Mind has been working with schools across Suffolk for more than eight years. Through our training in classrooms, we aim to support children from age four to 18+ with knowledge and skills that last a lifetime. Children and young people learn about their emotional needs as well as ways to support themselves or others. As part of our work in schools, we offer training for teachers and school staff, as well as assemblies for parents and caregivers.
We’re always being asked by parents for advice and guidance about how to support their children. So, we’re thrilled to be offering a short workshop for parents once a month, for free (during the pilot phase).
Our Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents will run monthly as a webinar and last about an hour.
This short, introductory workshop is designed for parents and caregivers, and allows them to learn how our Emotional Needs & Resources approach can support healthier, more balanced family dynamics. In the webinar, we specifically explore the needs of either younger children (under 11s) or older children and young people. These different age-specific sessions will run on alternate months.
You’ll gain insight into what your child’s patterns of behaviour — such as frustration, anger or anxiety —might really be telling you, and how unmet emotional needs could be the root cause. We’ll also share practical, easy-to-apply strategies to help you create a calmer, more connected home environment for your children, and for yourself.
Book onto our workshops
To access the webinars for free, simply input the code SMPARENTS25 at checkout:
Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents (Under 11s) Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents (Over 11s)Sources:
