Confidential help with dealing with challenging teenagers is being offered by Essex County Council.

Teenagers can create real problems within the home and at school as they test their boundaries and for many parents this proves to be the hardest period of parenting.

With more families living away from extended family support, some coping with work or marriage breakdowns, the need for sympathetic outside help through this difficult time is now being recognised by professional support workers.

"It has been recognised that there is a growing need for confidential support," said Liz Burgess from the east Essex pupil referral unit who works with parents through schools.

"Parenting as a whole has changed even from a generation ago and support has gone. We undervalue the value of support. You get it from peer groups in the playground when your children are at primary school and you can share worries.

"But parents of secondary school children have different challenges and children don't want you to be seen around the school."

Liz is used to working with groups of parents who ask for support with parenting their teenagers.

These groups are set up when a school feels enough parents have approached them with problems to make it worth sponsoring a ten week course on parenting skills.

But now the service is to be extended so that parents can call a confidential phone line to discuss their problems and ways of sorting them out.

Parents of teenagers in the Chelmsford area can call the help line between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Fridays on 01376 339103.

On Fridays between 12.30pm and 2.30pm parents in the west of the county can call 01279 836400, in the eastern area O1206 213704 and in the south 01268 551196.

Published Monday, May 19, 2003

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