An Australian first study, headlines that 46.5% of 11 – 13 year olds are living with a chronic disease or developmental condition. The report surveyed 5000 adolescence and looked at asthma, fatigue viruses all the way through to mental health, and how lifestyle factors are impacting our kids. 

The suggested downfall of the report is that it includes genetic conditions such as ADHD under the category of developmental conditions – terminology which can be extremely frustrating and unhelpful for the neurodivergent community. 

However, here is why I wanted to highlight this report. 

For a long time we have said we are parenting through a “mental health crisis”, but it is far more than that. We are parenting through a broader health crisis, in a world where half of our kids are struggling. 

Anything that impacts our kid’s ability to engage in education, extra curricula and social activities is something I care deeply about. 

A key part focus of this study is looking at how lifestyle choices such a diet, drugs and alcohol, technology, chronic stress and poor mental health are overlapping with this health epidemic. Here’s where I want to empower you, not tell you or your child to eat less sugar. We want to make sure your teen gets what they need to thrive. 

Think of your child’s health like a house… 

When I ran a charity and a psychology clinic, working with young people who were struggling with their health, there were always two levels of intervention. Both were important. 

Firstly, lifestyle.

Healthy lifestyle choices are a necessary, solid foundation on which every other medical decision is made. The “big five” (diet, sleep, exercise, social connection, and stress management) need to be tailored for each child to be effective. Many family’s are making significant (and sometimes radically alternative) decisions in this area to safeguard their kids. They know the hard truth: lifestyle factors have a big impact. 

Secondly, medication (and other interventions).

Complex conditions do require complex care. Medication, therapy and specialised treatments are life-saving for many kids. However, they work best with the above foundation in place. 

Practical Thoughts 

It can be very frustrating when adolescence are unable to keep up with their peers. Moments of joy can be just as helpful as a carrot stick, so let’s priorities laughter. It has its own medicinal qualities. Funny memes or videos can all lightening up their day.  When it comes to social activities sometimes the benefit outweighs the cost. 

  • Try saying, Sometimes the social benefit outweighs the physical cost. I get that and let’s plan for catch up time afterwards. 

We can’t always influence what kids do outside of your home. We can “bookend” their day with healthy habits. It’s the accumulation of these habits have a great impact on our kis. 

  • Try saying, Think of home like a reboot for your system. When you are here I want this to be a haven for your body so you can enjoy your time outside of the home.

Pre-arranged agreements, that our kids are involved in negating, remove friction—not create conflict. If we put routine healthy habits in place the fight is over before it begins. If we don’t buy  processed foods, or if the internet is set to turn off at a certain time, it’s one less obstacle we have to overcome.

  • Try saying, Let’s make decisions together before we are in a moment of crisis. Let’s get a lifestyle plan for when things are good, average and not great! We can then shuffle between them as we need to. 

MICHELLE ON CHANNEL 9: Healthy Habits and Australia’s shocking latest report 

How can we help each other?

Families who have kids who are struggling with illness, are very often stretched physically, emotionally and financially. The isolation and exhaustion is real. As you can imagine these are just a few of the enormous range of scenarios and feelings parents have. Here are just a few:

It affects the whole family – not just the child. People think we’re antisocial, but we’re just out of capacity. The burnout is real.

It’s life-changing and isolating. Even a simple text to check in means the world.

We both work full time just to survive financially while juggling our daughter’s care, therapies and daily emergencies. It’s exhausting.

My son is constantly judged by peers who don’t understand his diabetes. He’s tried to explain it, but he’s tired of being told it’s his fault. Even his teachers don’t understand why his energy is inconsistent or he zones out.

If someone in your community has a child who is ill, please be a small part of their solution. They don’t want pity. They don’t need your opinions or judgement. They do need our understanding and inclusion.That is something we can do, like TODAY!

We can all help be a part of the solution. Any of these things will make a difference:

  • a genuine parent to parent conversation
  • a simple text to ask how they are going
  • any kind act of service gestures
  • keeping friendship groups and circles open for ‘one more’
  • extending invites to birthday parties
  • having conversations with your kids about others challenges