Let’s all Talk Mental Health is an online hub for parents, caregivers, family members and educators to support their teens through mental health struggles, social and emotional problems and parenting challenges so that you can understand the issues and find out more about routes for help. We are here to help you to help them with every challenge that they may be facing: anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, low mood & depression, ADHD, Autism, OCD, self harm and more.
 
Featuring 30 LIVE sessions each year with the UK’s top clinical psychologists, therapists & psychiatrists, every session includes at least 30 minutes of anonymous audience Q&A. A subscription to Let’s all Talk Mental Health also includes on-demand access to a huge library of in-depth sessions
 
Choose from monthly, 6 or 12 monthly subscriptions £5 per month. Or if your teen attends one of our Membership Schools, you can join with your FREE school access pass.

Let's All Talk Mental Health

Teenagers today are often running on empty. Early school starts, busy schedules, late-night screen use and a biological shift that pushes sleep later all work against healthy rest. Many teens appear to function day to day, but are quietly accumulating sleep debt that affects mood, learning and wellbeing.

In this session, we’ll explore how much sleep teenagers actually need, why so many aren’t getting enough, and how sleep deprivation can show up in ways that are easily mistaken for motivation, behaviour or mental health issues. We’ll look at what “sleep debt” really means, why it builds so quickly during adolescence, and how neurodiversity can make sleep even more complex. The session will also share realistic, practical steps parents can take to support healthier sleep patterns — even when biology and busy lives seem to be working against them.

**Discussion Points**

*   Why teenage brains are biologically wired to fall asleep later
*   How early starts, screens and packed schedules disrupt sleep
*   What sleep debt is, how it builds up, and why teens are especially vulnerable
*   Signs a teen may not be getting enough sleep (beyond “being tired”)
*   The impact of poor sleep on mood, focus, memory and academic progress
*   How neurodiversity (including ADHD and anxiety) can affect sleep patterns
*   The link between sleep deprivation and emotional regulation, motivation and stress
*   Practical ways parents can support better sleep without constant conflict

**Takeaways for Parents and Educators**

*   A clearer understanding of why teens struggle with sleep
*   Greater confidence in recognising when tiredness is affecting wellbeing or learning
*   Insight into how sleep loss can mimic or worsen emotional and behavioural challenges
*   Practical, achievable strategies to support healthier sleep habits
*   Reassurance that small changes can make a difference over time


Tired, Wired and Falling Behind – The Truth About Teen Sleep

Teenagers with ADHD are often expected to meet the same academic, social, and extracurricular demands as their peers - despite having a brain that works in a fundamentally different way. Many appear to be coping on the surface, while quietly working much harder just to keep up.

In this session, we’ll explore how achievement pressure affects teens with ADHD, what signs may suggest they’re becoming overwhelmed, and how adults can offer meaningful support without unintentionally increasing stress. We’ll also look at practical adjustments that genuinely help teens manage school demands, especially those who are keen not to stand out or feel “different".

**Discussion Points:**

\- How ADHD affects attention, motivation, organisation, and emotional regulation

\- The hidden impact of academic and social pressure on teens with ADHD

\- Signs that a teen may be masking or becoming overwhelmed

\- Encouraging effort and growth without reinforcing comparison or pressure

\- Practical school and home adjustments that actually help

\- Supporting teens who resist accommodations or don’t want to feel different

\- Building confidence, resilience, and a healthier sense of self

**Takeaways for Parents and Educators:**

✅ Greater understanding of how pressure affects teens with ADHD

✅ Tools to spot overwhelm before it leads to burnout

✅ Practical strategies to reduce stress while supporting progress

✅ Ways to help teens recognise their strengths and feel more confident in who they are


ADHD and Teen Pressures: What Parents Need to Know

**Overview:**

Winter is often the time when parents begin to notice a shift in their teenager’s mood, energy, and motivation. Shorter days, darker evenings, increased academic pressure, and a natural urge to withdraw can all contribute to this seasonal dip.

At the same time, recent guidance for schools highlights the importance of helping young people understand that feeling worried or low at times doesn’t automatically mean there is a mental health condition. Many parents, however, are left wondering how to tell the difference between a normal winter slump and something more persistent.

In this session, we’ll explore what typical low mood can look like in teens, when to pay closer attention, and which signs may indicate depression. We’ll also look at how teens understand and interpret their feelings, and share calm, practical ways parents can offer support.

**Discussion Points:**

– Why winter can be particularly challenging for teenage mood and motivation

– The difference between a seasonal slump and clinical depression

– How teens make sense of low mood, worry, and emotional changes

– Warning signs that may suggest a need for further support

– How to talk to your teen about mood without escalating fear or labels

– Practical ways to support motivation, routine, and emotional wellbeing

– Knowing when and how to seek additional help

**Takeaways for Parents:**

✅ Confidence in recognising what’s typical and what needs closer attention

✅ Reassurance around normal emotional ups and downs

✅ Tools for opening gentle, supportive conversations

✅ Clear guidance on when it may be time to seek professional help


Teenage Blues or Depression? A Parents Guide

Some teens push the limits and it’s a normal and necessary part of growing up. But many parents today struggle with where to draw the line, how to hold it, and whether being firm means risking the relationship. In this session, we will talk about setting calm, consistent boundaries that support your teen’s growing need for independence while helping them build self-control and emotional regulation. We will also talk about how these boundaries must evolve over time with age, responsibility and maturity.


How can you help a child that panics

Speaker

Monika Parkinson

Dr

Replays

Tired, Wired and Falling Behind – The Truth About Teen Sleep

ADHD and Teen Pressures: What Parents Need to Know