#Childrensrights

A recent BBC report reveals that school-based anxiety has soared to what mental health experts describe as “epidemic” levels in Northern Ireland, with tens of thousands of youths missing significant classroom time due to overwhelming emotional distress, autism, ADHD, and bullying. The scale of the crisis has prompted calls for urgent review of both mental health supports and how schools address students’ individual needs. With Thailand facing rising cases of adolescent mental health problems after the pandemic, these findings carry crucial implications for Thai educators, parents, and policymakers.

A global wave of school-related anxiety is prompting urgent calls for better mental health support in classrooms. In Northern Ireland, tens of thousands of students have missed substantial class time due to overwhelming distress, autism, ADHD, and bullying. The situation highlights a growing need for flexible approaches to education that protect students’ well-being while maintaining learning momentum. With Thailand reporting rising adolescent mental health concerns after the pandemic, Thai educators, parents, and policymakers can draw practical lessons from this crisis.

A growing rise in gentle, respectful parenting is challenging physical and verbal punishment of children worldwide. In England, the debate has renewed focus on child rights, parental stress, and how laws reflect evolving attitudes. For Thai readers, this discourse prompts reflection on Thailand’s own traditions, laws, and approaches to discipline.

Traditional discipline has long circulated in many societies, often framed as “tough love” or necessary guidance. In 2025, social media moments have shown parents using infamous phrases, with children offering surprisingly loving, constructive replies. These viral exchanges illustrate a broad shift: parents are increasingly seeking alternatives to punitive methods, guided by research on long-term psychological effects. Research by major institutions highlights how negative parenting can shape self-worth and resilience.

A rising tide of modern parenting is directly challenging the physical and verbal punishment of children, igniting new debates about child rights, parental stress, and the legal status of corporal punishment worldwide—including in England, where the issue has come under fresh scrutiny. As discussion grows following high-profile endorsements of gentle, respectful parenting, Thai families and policymakers may find themselves reflecting on the country’s own traditions, laws, and cultural attitudes toward discipline.