Chris's Story

When your child is diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression at thirteen, the parenting books become useless. My son Noah went from a happy, sociable boy to someone who could not leave his bedroom. School became impossible. Friendships evaporated. Our home became very quiet.

I took extended leave from work, then reduced my hours, and eventually left altogether. Noah's mental health needs did not fit into a nine-to-five schedule. Crisis does not wait for business hours.

The parent carers group at Carers in Luton was the first place where I felt understood. Other parents shared similar stories — the waiting lists for CAMHS, the school attendance officers who did not understand, the family members who thought stricter discipline was the answer. Having that shared understanding gave me the strength to keep advocating for Noah.