In Conversations With: Supporting Young Minds Through Uncertain Times
When the world feels heavy, how do we help young people stay steady?
For the first Radnor In Conversation series, Mrs Bliss, Deputy Head (Pastoral), speaks with Dr Vered Cohen-Chen, Associate Professor in Occupational and Organisational Psychology at the University of Sussex. Together, they explore how constant exposure to global news affects mental health, and how families and schools can help children process what they see with balance and resilience.
How does constant exposure to negative news affect our emotions?
Dr Cohen-Chen:
“When we see or read something that feels relevant to us — even if it’s happening far away — our brains respond as though it’s close to home. According to the appraisal theory of emotion, we experience strong feelings when something seems to threaten our sense of safety or fairness. That’s why upsetting stories can feel so personal, even when we’re not directly involved.”
Mrs Bliss:
“That rings true. Many of our pupils are deeply affected by stories of injustice or conflict. They care, they empathise, and that’s a wonderful quality - but it can also feel overwhelming when those emotions don’t have an outlet.”
What role does social media play in this?
Dr Cohen-Chen:
"Social media tends to magnify threat and negativity. We naturally pay more attention to things that provoke emotion, and algorithms respond by giving us more of the same. It can create the false impression that the world is full of danger and chaos - even when that isn’t accurate.”
Mrs Bliss:
“And young people are particularly vulnerable to that cycle. They often engage most with topics around identity, fairness, and belonging - exactly the areas where emotions run high. Without time to switch off, it’s easy for the digital noise to take over.”
Why does the news sometimes feel so much harder to switch off from?
Dr Cohen-Chen:
“Because it’s physically close to us. Research by Dr Yael Benn shows that consuming distressing content on devices within our personal space - such as smartphones - heightens our emotional reaction. Watching the news on a television or computer, at more of a distance, can make it easier to process calmly.”
Mrs Bliss:
“That’s fascinating. It shows how small changes in how we consume information can make a real difference. For children, putting the phone down might literally help them think more clearly.”
Do children and teenagers experience world events differently from adults?
Mrs Bliss:
“Definitely. Younger children think very concretely - they worry about immediate safety. Teenagers, meanwhile, start thinking abstractly but often see things in black and white. Both age groups can feel powerless: children might internalise events, while teens can catastrophise.”
Dr Cohen-Chen:
“That’s where adults can help by providing context. Encouraging conversation, asking what they’ve heard, and helping them separate facts from opinions all make a big difference.”
Building Emotional Resilience at Radnor House
Across the school, wellbeing and emotional literacy are at the heart of everyday life. Prep pupils are supported through their PSHE lessons, worry boxes and clear safeguarding points of contact are stationed around the school and we operate an open-door policy for parents. Senior students have access to a range of safe spaces where they can share concerns or discuss difficult topics, either face-to-face or anonymously via our online platform, My Voice.
Our dedicated Wellbeing Hub Coordinator provides a constant and reassuring presence, offering students a quiet, confidential space to talk and seek support whenever they need it. While all teaching and support staff are safeguarding trained, they also place great emphasis on building strong, trusting relationships with pupils - ensuring every student feels heard, supported and confident in approaching any member of staff.
Mrs Bliss:
“By helping children question sources, recognise bias, and distinguish fact from opinion, we can turn news consumption into an opportunity for growth rather than fear. There are some great resources out there to support fact-checking and encourage discussion around the news we consume for example Full Fact UK – Bias and Credibility and Full Fact check claims made by the news and politicians.”
At Radnor House, emotional resilience and critical thinking are part of our DNA. Through empathy, partnership and purposeful discussion. We’re preparing young people not only to understand the world, but to navigate it with confidence, compassion, and hope.
