ParentHelper: A Digital Tool for Parents – Supporting Children's Wellbeing

How can parents tell if their child is struggling – and what should they do? That question is at the heart of the new digital project ParentHelper, which aims to support parents of children in the early school years (ages 4–10) with clear, evidence-based guidance and information when they notice possible signs of mental distress. 

The goal is to promote early identification and offer better support to children – before problems escalate.

Background

Mental health challenges among children are on the rise. At least 16 per cent of Danish children experience mental health problems before the age of 10. According to the latest national wellbeing survey, more than one in eight school pupils report poor wellbeing – highlighting the need for new solutions. 

Parents are often the first to sense when something is wrong, but it can be difficult to know how best to support their child. Worries about overreacting, stigma, or not being taken seriously can lead to hesitation – while the child’s challenges may grow worse in the meantime.

At the same time, Google search data shows nearly 40,000 monthly searches in Denmark for terms such as “wellbeing issues”, “bullying”, “school refusal”, ADHD and educational psychology services – a clear sign of widespread demand for accessible digital information. ParentHelper aims to meet this need with a free, public, research-based resource that offers parents a safe and reliable starting point.

The tool is being developed in collaboration with the Centre for Digital Psychiatry and builds on the success of Mindhelper.dk – an online resource helping young people understand and navigate mental health challenges.

Project title: ParentHelper