Secondary school & young adult

Parenting teenagers: what to expect.

You’re not alone! Parenting teenagers has never been easy and each generation of parents faces new challenges. It’s natural to experience mood swings as an adolescent right into your 20s, but many young people are experiencing higher levels of mental health problems than ever before. We know that as a parent or caregiver, it can be difficult to know what might be considered a normal part of growing up, and when you should worry. The websites and books in the section below have been chosen to help you discover what’s going on in your teenager’s brain, how to communicate effectively and where to look for help and reliable information. See the “Internet and gaming” section for up-to-date advice on social media and keeping safe online.

Parenting young adults: help and advice

Just because your child is now a young adult, doesn’t mean you will stop worrying about them and many of the links in the sections below are useful for parents of young adults too. Find more resources on the self-helpfor young people page, including a section for students. Most colleges, universities and large employers will have counselling support available. If you are worried about your child, you can contact their GP and let them know your concerns, although the GP will not be able to share any information with you without your child’s consent, which needs to be noted on their records.