David McNeill – illustratör

These are anxious times. While soaring prices, climate change fears, escalatingglobal conflicts and the latest political struggles may not be at the forefront of theminds of our children, the atmosphere in which they live, learn and work can feedtheir fears.The incessant rise of social media has changed the cultural landscape of our times.We are living through a mental health crisis. Every day there is a bombardment ofmessages from smartphones, laptops and TV screens, that "you can be anyone"or "find your strength inside you". But what if you can't? What if there is alwayssomeone better, brighter, more beautiful on another screen? What if ... you fail?As they struggle with these impossible objectives, children are growing up besetwith anxiety and low self-esteem. How can parents build mental wellbeing sochildren can grow into well-adjusted adults?Offering encouragement, insight, action points and practical activities, A Mindof Their Own explores the stages of brain and emotional development and theimpact of home life, social media, peer pressure, isolation, and the socio-economicenvironment on children and teenagers as they develop. Katharine Hill wiselytackles the more difficult topics such as anxiety and depression, eating disordersand self-harm in a non-sensational way, and always with practical advice on whatto do in challenging situations.Celebrating and affirming the strength of family life, as well as addressing the testsand trials of recent times, A Mind of Their Own is a lifeline for parents who want tobuild resilience in their children. Children who are secure in their own identity.