Listener Q&A, Screen Time Guilt, Introducing a new partner to the kids & low cost MH care

When is the right time to introduce a new partner after separation? Is watching TV really as harmful as phones and social media? And what do you do if your teenager needs mental health support but private psychology feels out of reach?In this listener Q&A episode, registered psychologist Breanna Jayne Sada answers three common parenting questions with practical, evidence-based advice designed to help parents make confident decisions while keeping children's wellbeing at the centre.Breanna discusses why there is no "magic timeline" for introducing a new partner after divorce, the importance of prioritising stability and secure attachment, and how parents can support children who may still be grieving family separation.She also explores one of the biggest parenting dilemmas today: screen time guilt. Is television really the same as smartphones, YouTube and TikTok? Learn why not all screen time carries the same risks and how to make balanced decisions without striving for perfection.Finally, Breanna explains the affordable mental health options available for Australian families, including Mental Health Care Plans, Headspace, school wellbeing services, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), telehealth and public mental health services.In this episode we discuss:When to introduce a new partner after separation or divorceHelping children adjust to blended familiesWhy stability matters after family breakdownManaging children's grief following separationIs TV as harmful as phones and social media?Healthy screen time habits for primary school childrenReducing parental guilt around screen useAffordable psychology options for teenagersMental Health Care Plans explainedHeadspace, school counselling and EAP servicesSupporting a teenager who is ready to seek helpResources mentionedHeadspace AustraliaKids HelplineLifeline AustraliaMedicare Mental Health Care PlansConnectIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with another parent or professional supporting children and families.Have a question you'd like answered on a future episode?Send it through via social media and it may be featured in an upcoming Parenting Q&A episode.Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.