Mental Health Topics

Academic stress can be overwhelming at times, contributing to mental health problems including anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness. Research has shown that students experiencing academic stress are more likely to develop a negative attitude towards the future, including career development, and have a high expectation of academic results. Learning how to organise and manage academic commitments can help better mediate academic stressors, help build self-confidence, and deter the onset of mental health problems.

Anxiety isn’t everyday worry—it’s a constant “alarm system” that sees danger everywhere. Anxiety disorders have both physical and mental effects on the body. Physical effects include fatigue, nausea, sweating or hot flushes, insomnia, and panic attacks. Other symptoms include inability to relax, feelings of dread, depersonalisation, and rumination. For children, stomachaches before school, avoiding social events, or meltdowns over small changes are common signs. Anxiety can shrink a one's world, but learning to calm the alarm, challenge irrational thinking and increase self-esteem can help reduce the intensity of anxiety.

ADHD isn’t just about hyperactivity or forgetfulness—it’s a neurodevelopment condition that can impact focus, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Some individuals with ADHD may present with more hyperactive tendencies, whilst others may present with more attentional concerns. However, even within attention, there are differences. Did you know that there are different types of attention? Those with ADHD may notice struggles at school and/or in the workplace. With the right strategies and support, their creativity and energy can become superpowers.

Low confidence isn’t just shyness. It’s a voice whispering, “You’re not good enough,” after setbacks or criticism. The way we feel about ourselves is strongly linked to our emotional and mental wellbeing. Research has demonstrated that low self-esteem can: affect quality-of-life, the way we interact with others, lead to disorders including depression and anxiety, and increase negative coping mechanisms. Building self-esteem early on in childhood is therefore crucial – when we learn to love ourselves, we view life from a more positive lens. This benefits our relationships, academic/work performance, career prospects, and how we feel in our own skin.

Stress, school, family and social issues are some examples of things that can trigger heightened unpleasant emotions in children and adolescents.  Often labelled as anger, many of us in fact are feeling other trigger emotions such as annoyance, frustration or disappointment. Becoming emotionally dysregualted can often lead to physical or verbal agression which in turn impacts our socialisation, academics, work and general sense of self. Learning to regulate our emotions is therefore an important skill to have to help manage triggers, prevent emotional outbreaks, and become more mindful of the cause-and-effect.

Executive functions include attentional control, working memory, inhibition, and problem-solving – processes controlled by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) region of the brain. Time-management, decision-making, and memory consolidation heavily relies on executive functioning, at least to some degree. Disruptions to executive functions make it challenging for someone to succeed in school, at work, or at home, subsequently leading to stress, feelings of worry, and negative self-concepts

School avoidance isn’t rebellion—it’s often a cry for help. Anxiety, bullying, or undiagnosed learning challenges can make school feel unsafe. Physical symptoms (headaches, nausea) are common. Understanding the “why” is the first step back to the classroom and rebuilding school to be a safe place.

Social difficulties—whether rooted in anxiety, neurodiversity (like autism or ADHD), or learned patterns—can make everyday interactions feel overwhelming for children and teens. A child who struggles to read social cues might be labeled “shy,” while a teen with social anxiety may avoid speaking up in class, fearing judgment. These challenges often ripple beyond friendships, affecting self-esteem, academic performance, and family dynamics. But with the right support, social skills can grow stronger, and confidence can bloom. Together, we’ll untangle the why behind the struggle and build tools to help your child connect, communicate, and thrive.