#ParentalSupport

The number of students skipping school due to emotional distress—termed emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA)—has soared in recent years, raising alarms among educators, healthcare professionals, and parents worldwide. Recent research from the UK highlights a five-fold increase in children missing more than half of their school days over the past decade, with experts pointing to the lingering repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic as a key factor driving this concerning trend (BBC News).

A growing wave of American parents are putting their own financial health and retirement plans at risk to help their adult children stay afloat—often at significant personal expense. Recent surveys and first-person accounts reveal that nearly half of American parents are now providing some level of financial assistance to their children over 18, signaling a profound shift in traditional family economics. Rising living costs, stagnating wages, and soaring housing prices have made it increasingly difficult for young adults to become financially independent, prompting many to return to the family home and rely on parental support long into adulthood.

A growing number of families in the United States are prioritizing support for adult children over retirement goals. Recent surveys and firsthand accounts show that roughly half of parents with children over 18 provide some financial help, often at personal cost. Higher living expenses, stagnant wages, and soaring housing prices have pushed more young adults back home, extending dependence well into adulthood.

In Sherman Oaks, California, a middle-aged couple spends more than $5,000 each month supporting their 27-year-old daughter who moved back home. This story illustrates a broader pattern: what once signaled independence is increasingly becoming a long-term financial obligation. The “empty nest” is disappearing for many families as adult children rely on parental support amid economic insecurity.

As Thailand’s healthcare system modernises and more children with complex health needs survive and thrive, a crucial question is gaining prominence: are we truly supporting the parents who shoulder the day-to-day care of sick or disabled children—or could we be unintentionally making their burden heavier? Echoing concerns raised in a recent commentary by The Guardian, leading-edge research highlights that while the journey of parenting often appears communal, families dealing with illness or disability travel a far lonelier, more taxing road that requires nuanced support from society, healthcare providers, and government systems (The Guardian).

The personal experience recounted in a recent Salt Lake Tribune opinion piece—of an individual forced to sever ties with conservative, immigrant parents after coming out as LGBTQ+—is not only poignant but also, sadly, emblematic of a wider pattern documented by international and Thai research. As dialogue around LGBTQ+ acceptance grows more visible in public and family spheres, scientists are compiling evidence that family rejection sharply increases mental health risks, but that targeted interventions and rising social support can, over time, help break cycles of alienation and trauma.

A personal account of coming out and parental rejection reflects a broader pattern seen in Thai research: family rejection can significantly harm mental health. Yet targeted support and growing social acceptance offer routes to healing and resilience for LGBTQ+ youth.

For Thai readers, this topic touches on love, faith, and tradition amid rapid social change. Thailand’s media increasingly celebrates gender diversity, but many families rooted in tradition or religion still struggle to accept identities that differ from longstanding norms. This tension shapes the daily reality of LGBTQ+ Thais, where public openness can clash with private hardship.

A new wave of scientific studies and media analysis is shining a spotlight on a pressing crisis facing families worldwide—including those in Thailand: parental burnout has reached unprecedented levels, sparking debate over claims that “today’s parents are weaker than ever” (The Telegraph). As researchers, clinicians, and educators grapple with this phenomenon, experts warn that the toll on family well-being and child development could be far-reaching if action is not taken soon.

Parental burnout is drawing global attention—and Thailand is feeling the impact. New studies and media analyses highlight higher levels of stress among parents, sparking debate about whether today’s caregivers are weaker than in the past. Researchers caution that burnout signals more than fatigue; it involves emotional exhaustion, detachment from children, and a sense of inefficacy that can affect family well-being and child development. In Thailand, growing urbanization, dual-income households, and changing family structures intensify these pressures.

A major new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has revealed a sharp and troubling decline in mental health among mothers in the United States over the past decade, a trend that experts say has wide-ranging implications for families, communities, and even international health policy—including in Thailand. The percentage of US mothers self-reporting “excellent” mental health plummeted from 38.4% in 2016 to just 25.8% in 2023, while the proportion rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” soared by more than 60% during the same period. These findings, based on a nationally representative survey of nearly 200,000 mothers, shine an urgent spotlight on the challenges facing parents and the cascading consequences for child and societal well-being.

A major study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows a sharp decline in mental health among US mothers over the past decade. The findings highlight how societal pressures, economic stress, and gaps in care affect families and could inform policy in Thailand as it strengthens its own maternal support systems. In the United States, self-reported “excellent” mental health among mothers fell from 38.4% in 2016 to 25.8% in 2023. The share rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” rose by more than 60% in the same period, based on a nationally representative survey of nearly 200,000 mothers. The results emphasize the broad impact on child development, family stability, and community health.

As exam season intensifies across Thailand, mental health experts are sounding the alarm over rising levels of psychological distress among teenagers, with mounting research showing that exam stress can easily spiral into more severe mental health challenges if left unaddressed. Recent expert commentary, together with new policy scrutiny, is shedding light on how parents and educators can identify the turning point where ordinary anxiety becomes a call for urgent intervention, and what steps actually help teens through this pressure-cooker period.

As Thailand enters peak exam season, mental health experts warn that rising distress among teens can quickly become a serious problem if left unaddressed. Policy discussions and clinician insights offer practical steps for parents and teachers to spot when anxiety crosses into danger and how students can cope during this demanding period.

For many Thai students, high-stakes tests such as the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET), GAT/PAT, or university entrance assessments trigger sleepless nights, fear of failure, and family tensions. Some stress can sharpen focus, but warning signs signal when anxiety becomes harmful. A Bangkok-based clinical lead at a major psychiatric hospital notes that persistent worry, overwhelm, panic episodes, avoidance of school or revision, and escalating negative self-talk indicate risk. Physical symptoms like stomach problems and insomnia, along with unhealthy coping behaviors such as self-harm or substance use, require immediate attention.

A candid exchange about co-parenting between famous actors has sparked renewed interest in how separated parents can support teens. For Thai readers, the topic resonates as many families in Thailand navigate changing norms while balancing tradition and modern life. New research suggests that collaborative parenting—built on respect, open communication, and shared decisions—can boost adolescents’ autonomy, wellbeing, and sense of belonging.

Poehler and Arnett, parents to teens Abel and Archie, described on a popular podcast that co-parenting is an ongoing process of flexibility, learning from mistakes, and listening to their children. Their experience aligns with international studies that emphasize mutual respect and ongoing dialogue as essential ingredients for successful co-parenting during adolescence.

The recent candid conversation between comedic actors Amy Poehler and Will Arnett about co-parenting their teenage sons has sparked greater interest in the complexities and rewards of shared parenting following separation. As more Thai families mirror these global trends—balancing tradition and modernity—the latest research offers meaningful insights into how collaborative approaches can nurture adolescent autonomy, wellbeing, and a lasting sense of belonging in today’s evolving society (ABC News).

Poehler and Arnett—parents to teens Abel and Archie—recently shared on Arnett’s “SmartLess” podcast that their co-parenting journey is an ongoing process of flexibility, learning from mistakes, and supporting their children’s growth through listening and adaptability. Their reflections echo emerging international research, underscoring the value of mutual respect, open communication, and shared decision-making in modern co-parenting, especially when guiding adolescents through the critical years of self-discovery and independence.