Why supporting children’s mental health could be a workplace issue
As families up and down the country prepare for a new school year, we take a look at how employers can support working parents who are concerned about their children’s wellbeing.
Key takeaways:
- Over one million children had active referrals to children and young people’s mental health services in 2024/25[3].
- “The return to school tends to bring a huge number of challenges for the children and young people (CYP) we see,” says Emily Ryan, Senior Clinical Lead and Therapist at The Sandbox, part of Mindler.
- How employers can support working parents who are worried about their child’s mental health – from supporting cultures, line manager training and workplace benefits.
As the school holidays wind down and September quickly approaches, families up and down the country will be dusting off school bags, books and pencil cases in preparation for the start of a new school year.
For many, the return to school brings a welcome sense of routine. But for some families and parents, a new term can bring additional pressures and concerns about their children’s wellbeing.
In fact, 2023 data found that 80% of parents with children aged nine to 13 were feeling anxious about their child’s transition to a new school year[1].
For parents, the top back-to-school worries keeping parents up at night were how their kids would manage their new workloads (40%) and whether they’ll make new friends (37%) among others[1].
For employers, these concerns could have an impact on the workplace. For example, a working parent who is concerned about a child’s mental health or their transition back to school may find it more difficult to concentrate.
"As the demand for child and adolescent mental health support continues to rise
so does the associated pressure on parents"
Dr Katie Tryon, Deputy CEO, Vitality Health
They may also find it difficult to balance professional and parental responsibilities or need time away from work to support their child.
Back to school: shining a light on children’s mental health
“The return to school tends to bring a huge number of challenges for the children and young people (CYP) we see,” explains Emily Ryan, Senior Clinical Lead and Therapist at The Sandbox, part of Mindler – a web platform built to meet the unique mental health needs of children and teens.
“The evidence base tells us that avoidance increases anxiety, and the summer holiday unintentionally creates a vast period of avoidance for young people who struggle to attend school.
“For CYP who struggled with anxiety prior to the summer break, the six-week gap can reinforce thoughts that they cannot cope and escalate difficulties when the return to school comes,” Emily adds.
While the back-to-school season can shine a spotlight on children’s mental health, it’s an issue that impacts families throughout the year.
According to previous research from Vitality, parents of under 18s worry about their children's mental health on average twice a week. It also found that 27% of children have missed school in the past year due to anxiety, stress, low mood or feelings of overwhelm[2].
While the polling suggests that children’s mental health concerns aren’t limited to September, there are key moments such as returning to school or college that could require additional support.
Why children's mental health matters to employers
Whether it’s academic expectations, the influence of technology, social media or mental health challenges, there are a variety of pressures children and young people could be facing.
“When a child struggles with their mental health, the whole family feels it,” explains Dr Katie Tryon, Deputy CEO at Vitality Health.
“As the demand for child and adolescent mental health support continues to rise, so does the associated pressure on parents,” she says, adding that this could contribute to absence and presenteeism at work.
According to a report from the Children’s Commissioner, over one million children had active referrals to children and young people’s mental health services in 2024/25[3].
Additionally, the research found that, where known, 16% of all referrals to children’s mental health services were for anxiety[3].
While children's mental health challenges may not originate in the workplace, it’s possible that the effects can be felt there.
If a parent is worried about a child’s mental health, it’s unlikely that they will leave these concerns at home meaning that they could be present at work but unable to perform at their usual level.
As Dr Katie sees it, early intervention and access to support can make a real difference, particularly when parents know where to turn – and this is why employers might be well placed to help.
“The sooner we reach people, the better the outcome. For children, for parents, and for the adults those children will become,” she says.
Resources to support children and young people’s mental health:
The return to school can be a challenging time for children and young people’s mental health. In collaboration with Mindler, we’ve created two guides to support parents and caregivers:
• Building positive routines: support your child’s wellbeing with routines that encourage structure, confidence, and healthy habits
• Core emotions: helping young people understand their emotions can help build confidence and resilience
How employers can support working parents
Supporting children’s mental health is not just about helping young people to thrive; it’s also about acknowledging the realities that working parents may face and the support they might need.
“As with our physical health, early intervention is key in ensuring young people can access the support they need, before it develops into something worse that is harder to treat,” Emily explains.
Creating an environment where seeking support is normalised rather than stigmatised and offering flexibility (where possible) during periods of increased pressure, can be a helpful starting point.
Employers can also train managers to spot the signs that a colleague might be struggling, encouraging them to have open conversations about wellbeing and reminding employees about the support available to them and their families.
The right support at the right time
While flexibility, supportive company cultures and effective training for line managers play a role, offering access to mental health support for your employees and their families can also make a difference.
Members have options to access to Headspace, Wysa and Talking Therapies with our partners, as well as the dedicated children’s mental health pathway – for children and teens aged five up to 18 included on the plan – all of which aims to provide the right level of support required for the right need.
As part of this, The Sandbox offers flexible, interactive self-help tools and resources for children and teens – from video games and self-help modules to online talking therapies in a safe, supportive space.
For Emily, one strength of The Sandbox is in “offering an entirely digital service, meaning children can access mental health support from the safety of their home.
“It enables children to feel comfortable and challenges dynamics of typical face-to-face therapy, which can sometimes feel clinical and overwhelming for children,” Emily adds.
Providing access to early and preventative support may help organisations to support family wellbeing, employee engagement and ease pressure for working parents.
While children’s mental health might not have traditionally been viewed as a workplace issue, it’s a widespread challenge that could impact working parents and therefore the workplace.
As employers continue to take a more holistic view of wellbeing, connecting the dots between family wellbeing and employee wellbeing could become even more important.
[1] Back to school: 80% of parents are anxious about their child starting a new school year, NatWest Group, August 2023
The research was conducted by Censuswide with a sample of 1,000 parents (aged 24+) of children aged 9-13 years old. The survey fieldwork took place between 11.08.2023 and 14.08.2023.
[2] Research was conducted by Opinium among 2,000 UK adults in April 2026
[3] Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health Services: 2024-25, Children’s Commission, Gov.uk, July 2026
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When an employee needs support for family members included on their plan, we’ve designed a dedicated pathway for children and teens aged five up to 18. It offers flexible and friendly, interactive care for everyday worries through to more specialist support and guidance for parents.