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TV drama Adolescence sparks call for parents to up their knowledge dramatically of children’s online world, say top London mental health experts
- Schoen Clinic UK
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
PRESS RELEASE: 02/04/2025
Parents and educators are being urged to show significantly more interest in the sometimes dark online world their children are spending hours each day immersed in, according to mental health experts at London’s Schoen Clinic Chelsea.
The groundbreaking Netflix drama series Adolescence has proved a smash hit and even sparked a national debate into the dangers of so-called incel culture and toxic masculinity, with its storyline looking at the life of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper) and his arrest for the murder of his classmate Katie Leonard.
The plot of Adolescence looks at the aftermath of the murder from the perspectives of not only Jamie, but his parents and sister, the primary detective on the case DI Luke Bascombe (played by Ashley Walters) and child psychologist Briony Ariston (played by Erin Doherty).
It has been described as a wake-up call for educators and parents, with many suggesting adults possess little knowledge of the online worlds their youngsters are part of.
Schoen Clinic entered the UK healthcare market in 2017 providing award-winning, expert-led healthcare specialising in certain areas of medicine – now mental health and wellbeing, eating disorders and dementia care.
Dr Hazel Fernandes, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, stressed the role of parenting in shaping adolescent emotional wellbeing.
She said: “Parenting, in my opinion, is the single most deciding factor on how a child will behave in the early years.”
Dr Fernandes acknowledged the impact of external factors in today’s very digital world, saying: “It takes a village to raise a child, but unfortunately, the present-day village includes social media and online content.”
Amrita Mahal, Speech, Language & Communication Therapist, suggested a better understanding of communication is key to nurturing a more open environment.
She said: “Communication isn’t just about words, it’s about tone, body language and even avoidance behaviours. The show also highlights digital communication as an area where meaning can be easily misinterpreted.
“The investigating officer in Adolescence struggles to understand the significance of certain emojis until his teenage son explains it to him. This moment highlights how digital communication can create gaps in understanding, particularly across generations.”
A key part of the programme is how online pressure is influencing how boys behave towards women and especially their female classmates – and how one-upmanship can lead to tragic results.
Amrita said: “Teenagers who struggle with language and communication are vulnerable. The language used in radical online spaces can feel structured and validating to someone who has experienced rejection in real life.
“If a young person lacks the communication skills to critically analyse these messages or discuss their feelings with a trusted adult, they may become more susceptible to harmful ideologies.”
Dr Fernandes added: “Social media and online communities influence can be minimised by carers/parents taking responsibility for the children they are responsible for. Early childhood is a time for providing children with a template for adult life.”
The pair were agreed that the show’s message is clear: mental health awareness, early intervention and open communication are essential in preventing tragedies like Jamie’s and Katie’s.
Dr Fernandes offers a final piece of advice for those involved in shaping the lives of young people, saying: “Parents and carers need to emphasise resilience and maintain a similar approach to managing bullying. Open conversations are important, open-mindedness on the parents part to not rush to judgement.
“Secrecy is disempowering and mitigating risks is more effective than ignoring that risks exist.”
For more information about the work of Schoen Clinic Chelsea, please call 020 3146 2300 or visit its website at https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea
ENDS
High-resolution pictures are available on request.
To organise an interview with an expert from Schoen Clinic please contact Rodney Kumar at WSA Communications in the first instance.
About Schoen Clinic UK Group
The Schoen Clinic Group was founded in 1985 and has since developed into Germany's fifth-largest privately-owned hospital group. It currently treats 300,000+ patients annually at 46 hospitals and clinics in Germany and the UK. The group also includes the leading online telemedicine clinic: MindDoc.
Schoen Clinic entered the UK healthcare market in 2017 providing award-winning, expert-led healthcare specialising in certain areas of medicine – now mental health and wellbeing, eating disorders and dementia care.
Media contact
Rodney Kumar: PR Manager, WSA Communications
Phone: 01908 371177
