HOW TO TALK TO BOYS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND RISK

Choose how and where you talk to them carefully. “The dining table is the worst place to try to talk to them about this stuff – for teenagers it’s too intense,” says Kevin Burch, a confidence coach. “Try to talk to them when you are in the car, or on a walk – as long as you aren’t facing each other.”

Recognise this sort of behaviour is normal and needs an outlet. “Encourage things like going to the Boy Scouts, or a boxing club, a football team,” says Dr Barry. “They need to learn to take some risks but in an environment where they are safe.”

Teenagers have a sense of invincibility but you need to remind them that they could still be in danger. “I use this metaphor of rolling a dice,’ says Burch. “If they roll the numbers one to five, they will be fine, they will have fun. But there is a chance they could roll a six and be in real danger. I would also tell them some of the stories about what has happened to teenage boys or people they look up to; they will be able to empathise with it.”

Roleplay how they can get through certain

situations. “If they are going out late, get them to talk through how they are going to get home,” says Matthew Jenkins, adolescent psychotherapist with the Association of Clinical Psychologists. “Get them to think ahead about situations they might find themselves in.”