Advice and resources : Supporting yourself or somebody else with mental health difficulties

Overview

Childhood and teenage years are a time of rapid and constant change. Young people often have to cope with many different situations and unfamiliar challenges like exams, relationships, and other pressures of growing up.

While it’s possible for some young people to talk to parents or carers about their feelings, others find it hard.

They might express their difficult feelings through being very emotional, moody, or withdrawing from friends, family, and hobbies they used to enjoy. 

Some find themselves getting in trouble at school or at home, and others find themselves becoming angry too easily.

Physical symptoms like headaches or nausea are common when they’re not able to say what they’re feeling.

For many young people, these experiences pass quickly. 

Over time, they can lead to mental health issues as they're prevented from learning, developing relationships, and enjoying life.

What you might see

Some young people might experience difficulties that are severe or long lasting, and might find themselves reacting to setbacks in more extreme ways.

They may be able to tell parents or friends they’re unable to cope, or hint they're struggling to cope by acting differently, such as:

• intense mood or behaviour changes at home and school
• changes to eating patterns
• feeling less confident looking after themselves
• disrupted sleep patterns

They may often use these changes in the hope that adults notice and speak to them.

How you can help

Often, the best help that parents and friends can offer is to listen, talk things through if asked, and support where they can.

There is also help available in schools, colleges, and local community such as counselling services.

If you’re concerned that a young person is struggling with their mental health, you can help by: 

• encouraging them to talk about how they’re feeling, which might be easier while walking or cooking
• listening to them in a non-judgmental, non-critical way
• spending time with them, doing the things they enjoy, like watching TV show
• reach out to them in everyday ways, such as inviting them out, texting, tagging them in a meme
• encourage connection with others through friendships and family time, being physically active, attending school, giving to others, and using mindfulness activities
• offering to help find more information and offer to go with them to get further advice or information

If they're unwilling to talk or seek help, and you're worried they're at risk in some way, you should explain to them that you need to share your concerns and get help from a trusted adult or healthcare professional.

This might seem hard to do, but many young people report that when this happens, it can make them feel more cared for, safe and supported.

When to ask for help

There is a lot of help available in your local community.

Occasionally, young people’s feelings or moods might be so extreme or upsetting that they need urgent help. If a young person’s difficulties are having a significant impact on their life (such as not going to school, or isolating themselves from friends and family for long periods) and this feeling continues for some time, they might need to get help.

If you become aware that they’re self-harming or having suicidal thoughts, they might need further help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Referral to CAMHS should be made urgently if you believe there’s a significant risk to the young person or others as a result of their mental health issues.

• Ways to refer

Self-help and other support

AnDY Research Clinic offers assessment, interventions and research to young people suffering from anxiety and depression.

GOV.UK have guidance on the Five ways to mental wellbeing.

Kooth offer free online counselling and emotional wellbeing support service.

• Kooth
• GOV.UK Five ways to mental wellbeing
• AnDY Research Clinic

Mobile apps

Little Blue Book of Sunshine (Apple and Google download) has practical and useful advice to help teenagers with how they're feeling.

• Little Blue Book of Sunshine (Apple)
• Little Blue Book of Sunshine (Google)

Parents and carers

You can find additional support online.

Family Lives have experienced editor provide parenting advice through advice articles

Relate offer counselling, training, and self-help resources to help you with family, mental health, and relationship challenges.

Young Minds provide young people with the tools to look after their mental health, and empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives. 

• Family Lives
• Young Minds
• Relate

Local support

Reading

No.5 offers free, confidential counselling and mental health support for young people aged 11-25 who live, work or study in the RG postcode area.

West Berkshire

Time to Talk (t2twb) offers emotional and psychological support service for young people aged 11-25 and parents connected to West Berkshire

Wokingham

ARC is an organisation that offers a confidential counselling service. We offer this service to anyone who needs counselling, young or old, in a warm, comfortable and safe environment.

• No.5
• Time to Talk (t2twb)
• ARC