Raising Teens is a warm-hearted and honest round-table discussion about parenting teenagers and teen mental health. It is hosted by presenter Guy Lloyd and includes teens’ own stories from Make (Good) Trouble’s young reporter Lola Ray. Her teen stories are surprising, thought provoking and often delightful. The show aims to bring those involved in raising teens together to dispel myths around teen mental health and offer practical help and tips.

👉 Looking for Series One, Series Three or Series Four?

Episode 1: KICKING OFF

Anger, defiance and rebellion – how can parents manage when their teenager is kicking off? When should you worry that it’s more than just the usual process of growing up and pushing boundaries? And what help is available for anger management issues and how easy is it to access?

Our guests were Ed Hallwood from Room To Rant at Audio Active, Carl Scott, Reboot project worker for YMCA in Hastings, PC Joe Davies from Sussex Police working in the youth prevention team and psychotherapist Donna Peters-Lamb.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 4 November 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Kicking Off on BBC Sounds

Episode 2: FAMILY BREAK-UPS

There are just under 4 million children in the UK whose parents are separated. Recent research has found that adolescents whose parents split up are significantly more likely than younger children to suffer from emotional and behavioural issues. So how do today’s families deal with break-ups? What kind of issues do step-parents or step- or half-children (so-called “blended families”) face and how do they deal with them? How can families navigate relationship break-ups and stay resilient?

Our guests were Alex Psaila from Relate, Jo Heywood, an education specialist, Dan Flanagan from the brilliant Dad La Soul, and our very own Daisy Cresswell.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 11 November 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Family Breakups on BBC Sounds

Episode 3: TEENS, PARENTS & BOOZE

How do parents’ attitudes to alcohol affect their children? How do parents broach the subject with a teen? Where can they get the best advice? And how do teens cope with a parent with alcohol dependency and how can the wider family find help? 

Our guests were Piers Henriques from NACOA (the National Association for Children of Alcoholics), Fran Carpenter from Oasis Project, helping women and families affected by drugs and alcohol, Luci Hammond from RU-OK, a substance misuse service for Brighton & Hove, and Ceri Walker, the daughter of an alcoholic parent.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 18 November 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Teens, Parents & Booze on BBC Sounds

Episode 4: SELF-HARM

Ten percent of 15 to16 year-olds self-harm – and one in five young women between 16 and 25 have self-harmed.  In this episode we’re looking at self-harm. What is it? What causes it? And how can teenagers get help?

Our guests were Jane, whose daughter self-harms, spoke movingly about how it has affected her and her family – Jane’s story was initially told on our blog,  CAMHS Nurse, Rebecca, education specialist, Kathryn de Ferrer and mental health specialist Ren Rockwood.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 25 November 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Self-harm on BBC Sounds

🎧 Hear Lola’s extended interview with a teen who has experienced self-harm.

Episode 5: EATING DISORDERS

Eating disorders can manifest themselves in many ways: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder – and shades in between. Anorexia is a frightening illness and has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Why does this issue mainly affect girls? Are boys who work out at the gym also affected? How can parents spot the signs and find ways to get help for their teen?

Our guests were Tom Quinn from eating disorder charity BEAT, campaigner and author Hope Virgo, nurse and consultant Mary Kemp, and Nicky, the parent of a teen that had an eating disorder.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 2 December 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Eating Disorders on BBC Sounds

🎧 Hear Lola’s extended interview with a teen who has experienced an eating disorder.

Episode 6: LONELINESS

Brighton has the most internet searches for the word ‘lonely’. Almost 20% of children living in cities say they often feel lonely (ONS 2018). In 2016 Childline saw a marked increase in the number of children who felt “miserable, misunderstood or isolated” with many too “embarrassed” to admit to feeling lonely. There are many reasons cited including: the pressures of social media, bullying, moving home or school (including the transition to secondary school), living in care or having an illness or disability. How can parents encourage a teen to open up if they think they’re becoming isolated? How can parents spot the signs and find ways to get help?

Our guests were Danny Gray, founder of War Paint for Men, psychotherapist Donna Peters-Lamb and Zara Philips from Albion in the Community.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 9 December 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Loneliness on BBC Sounds

Episode 7: GRIEF

How do young people deal with the loss of a friend or family member? How can parents, who may be grieving themselves, help their teens to cope? How does grieving affect the wider family and how do you cope with special occasions like birthdays and Christmas? Does it affect teens differently? Where can parents and teens get practical help and support?

Our guests were Ross Cormack from Winston’s Wish, a charity giving help to grieving children, authors Mark Lemon and Martin Spinelli, and parent Helen.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 16 December 2019

🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: Grief on BBC Sounds

🎧 Hear Lola’s extended interview with a teen experiencing grief

Episode 8: THE REVENGE OF THE TEENAGE BRAIN 

Our most popular subject from series one gets a second airing with a deeper look into the development of the teenage brain.  With guests neuroscientist and author Dean Burnett, vet, anatomist, reproductive biologist and author David Bainbridge and school learning and wellbeing mentor Debra Lloyd.
Broadcast 8pm Monday 23 December 2019

 🎧 Listen to Raising Teens: The return of the teenage brain on BBC Sounds

  🎧 Listen to Lola’s interview with the Sussex Youth Cabinet

HELP AND SUPPORT

Visit our Help & Advice page for resources and places to get support.

⭐️ Join our Raising Teens Facebook group for support from parents, teens and experts