The Netflix series Adolescence touched many a nerve and has sparked a conversation relevant to households and boardrooms. While it explores the emotional turmoil of teenage life, it also spotlights something less visible but equally pressing: the silent stress carried by parents raising teens.

This is true in the Middle East for parents with high-stress jobs and long workdays who struggle to find enough time for their children. While maternity leave and support groups exist for those who have just given birth, there are no such systems in place for parents of teens. Almost non-existent employer initiatives and resources are available for those parenting older children.

“There’s a widespread assumption that once children are out of diapers and in school, parents’ responsibilities become more manageable. This overlooks the emotional, academic, and behavioral challenges that can emerge later on,” says Antony Bainbridge, Head of Clinical Services and Clinical Lead at Resicare Alliance. 

According to him, many workplace wellness programs still predominantly focus on parenting primarily for new mums and dads. “Though this is gradually changing, there’s still a long way to go in recognizing the full spectrum of parenting responsibilities—especially during the adolescent years,” he adds.

The adolescent stage is often overlooked when it comes to support for the children and their parents, says Nicki Wilson, Managing Director at Genie. “There’s still a societal tendency to assume teenagers should just ‘get on with it,’ but modern challenges are far more complex.”

A LIFE STAGE THAT’S IGNORED IN THE WORKPLACE

Teenagers may not need constant care, but they do need emotional presence, guidance, and mental health support—things their working parents are trying to provide, often with little institutional understanding.

“By focusing support so narrowly on new parents, companies may unintentionally exclude a significant group of mid-career employees who are still carrying intense caregiving loads,” says Bainbridge. “That affects inclusion, retention, and employee engagement.”

Teen parenting introduces a different kind of conflict. There are therapy appointments, urgent school interventions, digital safety crises, and emotional check-ins that don’t fit neatly into traditional “family leave” categories.

Bainbridge points out that unlike the early parenting years, which often come with formal structures like maternity leave or onsite childcare, adolescence remains an invisible pressure. “Without recognition, employees may struggle silently, reducing their engagement or productivity.”

“Employers can make a huge difference. Support shouldn’t end once a child is out of nursery,” says Wilson. “Adolescence brings a different kind of pressure and flexibility is just as important,’ she adds. 

“There is a compelling argument for recognizing parenting teens as a distinct life stage that can affect workplace performance and stress levels,” says Bainbridge. “But it’s also important to consider the practical implications and fairness in workplace policies.”

WHY INSURANCE COVERAGE AND THERAPY MATTER

It’s not just workplace culture that needs to evolve. Access to adolescent therapy and family counselling is critical—and insurance coverage needs to catch up.

According to Bainbridge, teens in Middle Eastern countries, like the rest of the world, are grappling with mental health challenges—driven by academic pressure, social media anxiety, and identity struggles. Yet access to therapy remains inconsistent, and often prohibitively expensive for working families.

Bainbridge supports expanding coverage. “When adolescents receive appropriate mental health care, they’re more likely to succeed socially and academically. That directly impacts the wellbeing of their parents—who are your employees. Accessible therapy and counselling services don’t just help the child. They ease the emotional and logistical load parents bring into the workplace,” he says.

Family therapy also reinforces cultural values across the region, where family cohesion is central. But stigma around mental health, a shortage of adolescent-focused therapists, and patchy insurance systems remain major obstacles. Experts say early intervention through therapy can prevent more severe mental health issues, it reduces long-term healthcare costs and supports working parents in a way that strengthens both family and workforce resilience.

“Insurance coverage for adolescent therapy and family counselling in the Middle East is not only justified—it is necessary for the region’s social and economic well-being. While cultural sensitivities and logistical challenges exist, they are not insurmountable. With proper education, workforce development, and gradual policy shifts, such coverage can promote healthier families and more resilient societies,” Bainbridge says.

A MIDDLE GROUND 

While formal policy categories for “parenting teens” may not be realistic for all companies, both Wilson and Bainbridge advocate for a flexible, inclusive approach to caregiving support.

“While parenting teens does come with unique stressors that can affect work performance, companies may not need to formally recognize it as a separate category,” says Bainbridge. 

“Instead, a more flexible, inclusive, and needs-based approach—where employees can access support regardless of the specific caregiving challenge—might offer a balanced solution,” adds Bainbridge. 

He adds, “Recognizing and validating stress without overcomplicating policies can foster both empathy and equity in the workplace.”

Stress faced by teens’ parents can be resolved in many ways, he suggests, this might include enhanced access to mental health resources, EAPs, flexible scheduling, or even workplace-led parenting workshops that address the challenges of the teen years.

Wilson offers solutions that don’t require a policy overhaul. “One initiative that works well is ‘duvet days’—letting employees take a day off, no questions asked. It gives people breathing room when home life becomes overwhelming.”

She also suggests flexible hours for parental duties, therapy support for adults, manager training, and regular check-ins. “Sometimes there are silent battles going on,” she says. “But that doesn’t have to be the case if people are given the tools to identify issues and the empowerment to speak up.”

In addition, she says, policies don’t need to be exclusive to parents of teens; “they can benefit everyone,” she adds.

EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF SUPPORT 

Companies in the Middle East are stepping up their mental health and wellness efforts—but if the focus remains on the nursery years alone, a significant portion of working parents will continue to feel unseen.

Bainbridge says, “Supporting parents of teens isn’t just about empathy—it’s about retaining experienced talent and creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces.”

“A more human workplace is a more productive one at the end of the day,” Wilson adds.