Parents Must Prioritize Their Own Mental Health to Support Children, Says Britain's First Professor of Young People's Mental Health

Strategic Insights -

Britain's first professor of young people's mental health, Tim Dalgleish, has urged parents to address their own mental health before helping their children with anxiety and depression. Dalgleish, a world-leading neuroscientist and clinical psychologist, warns that a mother or father's anxiety can manifest as overprotective parenting, causing the child to learn to respond to life in the same anxious way. He emphasizes that there is evidence that parents struggling with depression and anxiety will seek help for their children but not for themselves, often due to stigma, guilt, or practical constraints.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dalgleish advocates for the "two generation" approach, where the whole family's mental health is considered at the time a child is assessed, which has been successfully done with children dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • 14.5% of people in the UK aged 16 to 34 have a mental health condition, while 11-12% of those aged 45 to 64 have a mental health condition (Health Foundation charity).
  • Children are 55% more likely to develop depression if their mother had depression during the child's life, and 43% more likely if their father had depression (Swansea University, 2021).
  • Dalgleish's recent work has included research into "memory flexing," conjuring up specific positive memories to counter a generalised, negative view.
  • Low-intensity therapies, such as "radical validation" or "active listening," can be effective in helping young people with mental health issues.
  • Exercise, good diet, and better sleep are considered "easy wins" to help with youngster's mental health, serving as "behavioural antidepressants."
  • Dalgleish has been appointed as Britain's first professor of young people's mental health by the University of Cambridge, thanks to a PS4.5m donation from philanthropists Christina and Peter Dawson.

Statistics:

  • 14.5% of people in the UK aged 16 to 34 have a mental health condition (Health Foundation charity).
  • 11-12% of people in the UK aged 45 to 64 have a mental health condition (Health Foundation charity).
  • 55% chance of the child of a mother with depression getting the condition too (Swansea University, 2021).
  • 43% chance of the child of a father with depression getting the condition too (Swansea University, 2021).
  • PS4.5m donation from philanthropists Christina and Peter Dawson to fund Dalgleish's professorship at the University of Cambridge.

Sources:

  • Health Foundation charity
  • Swansea University (2021)
  • University of Cambridge
  • Christina and Peter Dawson