News & blog

Despite The Worrinots app winning gold at the UK App Awards, we need to do so much more if we're going to take the fight to children's mental health. But as our own experience shows, it’s not the digital native children we need to convince, it’s the digital immigrants; parents, teachers and government decision makers.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what the judges said.. "Congratulations to Worrinot’s for making us feel our children are safe in a very user-friendly way."

Along with Shakespeare's Tempest (featuring Ian McKellen), Northumbria Water and The Big Life Project, The Worrinots are up against some extremely tough competition in the children's/education category. Can the Worrinots see off the competition, as well as 'make the fear disappear'?

• Do you have children between the ages of 5 – 11 years of age?
• Ever wondered what your children worry about?
• Do you have concern for their well-being?
• Do you worry about who they can turn to?

Amongst other stats, research carried out by TES and This Morning revealed 76% of primary schools suggest there is no bullying in their schools. But on closer inspection I may be the only one but there seems to be some contradiction in the results. Are staff being honest with their answers or do they not want to admit there is a problem? 

There's many things I miss about my children being young. One of them however isn't the start of the new academic year. As the six week holiday came to an end it was time to start introducing conversation during the morning competition about going back to school. My children were very open with me about their feelings. I was soon to realise that wasn't always the case at the school gates.

“I’m here if you ever need me”. We either heard it as a child, or have said something similar to a son, daughter, niece or nephew. We think we’re doing the right thing, and in part, we are. But rather than just an ear, children need coping mechanisms that they can implement. To rewrite a famous saying, don’t just give your child a fish that relieves their worries for a day. Give them a rod that will feed their wellbeing for a lifetime.

Children don’t always volunteer their feelings, we seem to have to second guess what’s troubling them. How can we stop our children suffering from small worries at such a young age, how can we stop their worries growing with them so they don’t reach crisis point in their teenage years? How can I know what my children are worried about and help them to overcome their fears? 

We keep reading of the impact and increase in Mental Health issues in children and young people but does the Sats procedure contribute towards it? Tracy Gladman, The Worrinots' Education & Business Manager looks into the contradiction surrounding the expectation of the regular school day and the reality of the expectation of Sats week.

From Prince Harry's 20 year fight with mental health, Lady Gaga's PTSD, to J.K. Rowling's battle with depression, there are no shortage of high-profile figures raising awareness of mental health illnesses. So why is there is a shortage of effective solutions to help the growing number of children suffering with depression?