Almost one third of parents would be embarrassed if their child needed counselling

Almost one third of parents would be embarrassed if their child needed counselling

Nearly one third of parents would feel embarrassed if their child had mental health problems and required counselling, a survey by children’s mental health charity Place2Be has found.

While 29% of parents said they would feel embarrassed if their child wanted counselling, 34% of parents said they would judge their child, the survey carried out to coincide with Children’s Mnetal Health Week revealed.

Catherine Roche, Chief Executive of Place2Be, said: “This Children’s Mental Health Week, at a time when we really need to draw on our resilience and emotional wellbeing, we’re encouraging families and schools to have a conversation about mental health. Creativity and expressing ourselves and our individuality creatively can be a great way to do this. Parents and schools play a crucial role in teaching children that it’s ok to ask for help. Although we’ve made progress in recent years, these results show there is still some way to go. We all have mental health and we need to nurture it, particularly during these challenging times.”

Place2Be carried out the survey with more than 1,000 parents of children aged between five and 18 years old. It shows that despite greater awareness and successful anti-stigma campaigns over the past six years, there is still work to be done.

Attitudes among parents remain largely unchanged since the first Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015, when 30% of parents reported they would be embarrassed if their child wanted counselling.

We previously reported that Time to Change anti-stigma campaign would be ending in March due to a lack of funding.

The latest findings show that fathers are more likely to be embarrassed by their child’s mental health (37% said they’d feel embarrassed, compared to 22% of mums), which also reflects very similar results in 2015 (38% of men compared to 23% of mums).

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly taken its toll with almost one in six (15%) parents rating their child’s mental health as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. More than 30% reported their child’s mental health as ‘worse’ or ‘much worse’ than before the pandemic. Despite the stigma, half of parents said the pandemic has made them more likely to encourage their child to have counselling if they need it.

Charlotte Aitken, Trustee of the Beaverbrook Foundation said: “The Beaverbrook Foundation is thrilled to support Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. Now more than ever before it is essential that we nurture the next generation’s wellbeing and give them the tools and skills to look after their mental health. We hope this week raises much needed awareness of the pressing issues children and schools are facing right now.”

The research commissioned by Place2Be also revealed that:

- 53% of parents think their child’s school is ‘good’ or ‘very good’ at supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing – both generally and during the pandemic

- Over half of parents think the staff and leadership team in their child’s school need more training on how to support children’s mental health and wellbeing (56% and 54% respectively)

- A third (33%) don’t know who is in charge of mental health and wellbeing at their child’s school.

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “Mental health support is vital for children, especially in the current climate. I’m pleased that support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery is helping charities like Place2Be reduce the stigma around counselling for children, and spreading the word that asking for help is okay.”

This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and The Beaverbrook Foundation.

Place2Be’s advice and tips for supporting parents to help their child’s mental health




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