04/05/2026
According to a very well-known comedian, we, as parents and educators, should be telling our young people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and ASD, etc., to 'snap out of it.'
The claim that parents and teachers are “enabling” children’s mental illness instead of telling them to “snap out of it” reflects a misunderstanding of what mental health challenges actually are, how they develop, and what children need to thrive.
Supportive adults aren’t enabling illness; they’re enabling recovery.
Parents and teachers who take children’s mental health seriously aren’t “indulging” them. They’re doing what research consistently shows works:
•Validating emotions reduces distress and helps children regulate themselves.
•Providing accommodations (quiet spaces, flexible deadlines, sensory tools) helps children stay engaged in school rather than disengaging entirely.
•Teaching coping skills builds long-term resilience.
•Seeking professional help early prevents conditions from worsening.
This isn’t enabling illness, it’s enabling growth.
Today’s children face pressures that previous generations didn’t
Children today navigate:
•Constant digital comparison
•Academic pressure from an early age
•Higher expectations for performance and behaviour
These pressures don’t mean children are weaker. They mean the world has changed, and the adults guiding them must adapt.
Some critics argue that acknowledging mental health leads to a lack of discipline. But good mental health informed parenting and teaching do both:
•They set boundaries.
•They teach accountability.
•They support emotional regulation.
•They address the root causes of behaviour, not just the symptoms.
If you work with me, know that I will always support your whole family with compassion and understanding 💜