MENTAL health, bullying and social media use are the top parenting concerns, according to a children’s charity.
The NSPCC revealed two in five parents across the West Midlands are worried about the impact of mental health on their family following the results of a survey it commissioned.
This comes as the charity launches a new campaign and refreshed advice for parents to help with many of the everyday challenges they face when raising children.
Across the UK, the issue that parents of children and babies aged five and under were most likely to be concerned about was their child’s emotional wellbeing and/or mental health, with three-quarters saying it was a worry.
More than two thirds also cited learning development as a cause for concern.
For parents of six to 11-year-olds, 56 per cent said they were anxious about their child’s mental health and 47 per cent of parents of children between 12 and 17 also expressed the same concern.
Between April 2023 and December 2023, the NSPCC Helpline dealt with 2,499 child welfare contacts about child mental and emotional health a 21 per cent increase compared to the same time frame in 2022.
The new campaign, supported by TV presenter and author Anna Williamson, focusses on the NSPCC’s refreshed parenting pages on its website which help make the expertise and guidance they offer at every stage of parenting more accessible and user-friendly.
NSPCC Ambassador Anna Williamson said: “We live in a world where parents feel more anxious than ever which is why I’m so proud to support this campaign that is all about giving them free, non-judgement expert advice.
“As a mum myself, I too have worried about the impact of things like bullying, mental wellbeing and social media on my children so it’s great to see charities like the NSPCC taking positive steps to help give parents the tools they need to navigate tricky topics together.”
The NSPCC has also launched a national TV ad campaign, in which actor T’Nia Miller, star of Years and Years, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Sex Education, reads a poem all about the many anxieties of parenthood.
Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive at the NSPCC, said: “Parents and carers tell us that raising their families is becoming increasingly difficult. With a cost-of-living crisis, new online threats to children and increasing mental health concerns among young people, there are a rising number of challenges in childhood today.
“We know that parents can be a vital positive influence in young children’s lives. I hope that our advice will help provide easy to understand support and help parents feel less anxious as they navigate family life.”
