Webinar: Understanding Anxiety & Depression to Foster Resilience (Part II)
“Anxiety is a normal and healthy response to stress. However, when it becomes overwhelming and persistent, it can interfere with a child’s daily life. To tackle this problem, it’s essential to understand what anxiety is.” Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
Join us for part 2 of an exclusive webinar featuring international experts Dr Emma Woodward and Dr Joe Stammeijer, as they share valuable insights into recognising early signs of concerns and practical approaches to supporting the wellbeing of young people. This webinar is suitable for parents, grandparents and carers of primary and secondary students.
- Date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
- Time: 7.30pm
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Register here
In this session, topics include:
- Staying calm and connected
- Building daily routines
- Meeting the needs of neurodivergent learners
This webinar is part 2 of a series.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. In fact, it plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential risks and adapt to new situations. Anxiety can motivate students to study for a test, practise before a performance, or approach unfamiliar experiences with greater care and awareness. However, for many children and adolescents today, anxiety can shift from being a helpful response to becoming intense, persistent and disruptive.
The world young people are growing up in is fast-paced and often demanding. Academic pressures, social expectations, family changes and the constant presence of digital media, can all contribute to heightened stress and worry. When anxiety is left unrecognised or unsupported, it can begin to affect a young person’s wellbeing, learning, friendships and self-confidence. That’s why it’s so important for adult carers to understand how anxiety may present in children. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But with greater awareness, open communication, and the right strategies, families can help young people manage anxiety in healthy ways.
One of the strongest protective factors for children and adolescents is the presence of calm, emotionally responsive adults. Parents and carers play a vital role in helping young people feel understood and capable of coping with life’s challenges.
To support your daughter in building emotional resilience, School TV recommends the following strategies:
Listen without judgement
Give your child your full attention when they share worries. Avoid rushing to fix the problem or minimise their emotions. Feeling heard and understood helps reduce emotional distress and strengthens connection.
Normalise anxiety
Reassure your child that anxiety is a normal emotion everyone experiences. Open conversations about emotions help reduce stigma and encourage young people to seek support when needed.
Teach calming strategies
Simple techniques such as slow breathing, grounding exercises and mindfulness can help regulate the body’s stress response. Practising these skills regularly helps young people access them more easily during stressful moments.
Break tasks into steps
Help your child tackle big challenges by breaking them into smaller, achievable steps. This approach makes situations feel more manageable and builds confidence in their ability to cope.
Problem-solve together
Work with your child to explore practical solutions when challenges arise. Involving them in the process builds problem-solving skills and helps them feel more capable and in control.
Prioritise good sleep
Establish consistent bedtimes and a screen free wind-down routine. Quality sleep supports mood regulation, concentration, and resilience, making it easier for your child to manage daily stress and anxiety.
Encourage a balanced diet
Providing regular, nutritious meals with a variety of whole foods supports your child’s physical health and mental wellbeing. A balanced diet can help stabilise mood, improve concentration and reduce feelings of irritability or fatigue.
Model calm coping
Demonstrate healthy ways of handling stress, such as journaling, exercising or talking through worries. Children often copy what they see, so setting an example is a powerful teacher.
Celebrate effort, not just results
Praise persistence, learning and small wins instead of focusing only on outcomes. This shifts pressure away from perfection and helps your child build confidence and resilience over time.
Encourage social connection
Support your child in maintaining friendships and joining group activities. Strong, positive relationships provide belonging, perspective and emotional support, all of which protect against anxiety and build wellbeing.
For more resources, please visit School TV here.
Caroline Blyth
School Counsellor
