Youth mental health is increasing on a trajectory we do not want. Parents across the globe are wondering why it is happening and how they can support their children and yet they are not prioritising time for parental support and ongoing education. Perhaps we need a home version of Continual Professional Development!

​Are you ready for a rollercoaster ride? That’s what it can feel like when raising teenagers! A mixture of mature and insightful conversation, independence and raging hormones. Everyone is back to having their L and P-Plates on.
I have found that the parenting skills needed in teenage years become more psychological than physical and much more about self-responsibility and mutual respect. For example where my children might not have called me to account for what I said versus what I do, my teenagers will definitely hold me to account if I do not ‘walk my talk’. Even if they don’t say it out loud…they have a radar for hypocrisy and it has been both very humbling and the greatest gift at different times.

You have all heard of FOMO - fear of missing out but what about FOSO - fear of standing out? I know far more people who are living the second whilst being distracted by the first! There will be a number of variations on the theme of FOSO but this blog focuses on Fear of Standing Out as a result of observing all the cyber-bullying we see. It is written from personal experiences. A version of this blog was originally published on ABC Open.