How can I support my youth or young adult if they are in need of mental health or support services?
Twenty-two percent of adolescents between the ages of 13-18 have mental health challenges that impact their daily lives in one way or another. Having a strong support system at home and/or in the community is an important first step in helping your young person feel confident when seeking mental health services. You might feel nervous about how your young person may react to a conversation about their mental health, unsure of how to answer their questions about their experiences, or even if they need assistance in the first place. Here are a few tips for you to get started:
Be aware of changes in mental, emotional, or behavioral health. Take a look at our Mental Health Awareness page to see if your youth or young adult is experiencing mental health symptoms. Do your homework and be prepared to talk about your observations.
Create a comfortable setting. Where you have the conversation is just as important as what the discussion is about. Creating a setting where your young person can be vulnerable and feel supported is vital for these conversations to go as smoothly as possible. Some people may find it easier to be engaged in a relaxing activity, such as walking or going on a car ride. Others may need to be in a quiet, familiar environment with few distractions. The timing of the conversation is important too! Think about days of the week or times during the day when your young person is more relaxed and available to talk to you. Do what you can to reduce stress for you and your loved one prior to beginning your discussion.
Be genuine. These conversations can be just as difficult for you as they are for your young person. If you are uncomfortable with the conversation, make it known, and create a space where you and your young person can have an open dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding.
Remove stigma. Oftentimes, young people avoid engaging in discussions and services due to the stigma attached to having a mental health challenge. Family members, peers, and community messaging all play a role in how an individual views their mental health status and treatment. By using neutral language that focuses on the positives of understanding diagnoses, being educated in the types of treatment available, and providing unwavering support for your young person can make a huge difference in how they view their own mental health status.
See their point of view. Allow your young person to talk through their concerns about their mental health and treatment options. Ask questions such as: “What are the positives of receiving treatment? What are your concerns about treatment? How does engaging in services make you feel? What can I do to support you right now as we explore your options? ” Knowing both the positives and not-so-positives of receiving treatment will help the conversation go more smoothly and help your young person create a sense of personal choice during this process.
Validate their feelings. Everyone has a different mental health journey, and how your young person views their mental health may be different from how you see it–which is okay! Don’t minimize their experience by comparing them to other young people or making broad statements about mental health. Listen to understand, not just to respond!
Think about previous attempts. If your young person has been involved in services before, it might be helpful to have a discussion about what worked and what didn’t work in previous services. Take those experiences and use them as lessons to help inform possible solutions.
Focus on their choice and be collaborative. The best thing we can do as supports for our loved ones is to focus on their goals for themselves, not the goals we have set for them. Though this may not always be the case, allowing for a young person to choose the kind of services they receive, how often, and who will be involved creates a sense of empowerment and personal responsibility for their own care. This is a useful skill for people of all ages and can be especially important to develop as a youth/young adult. Use language that lets your young person know you want to collaborate with them about their care, rather than taking away their control by making all the decisions for them.
Resources:
5 Tips for Talking to Your Teenager About Mental Health. (2017, June 28). https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2017/06/5-tips-talking-teenager/.
Encouraging Your Young Adult to Seek Treatment. (2020). https://childmind.org/guide/parents-guide-to-co-occurring-substance-use-and-mental-health-disorders/encouraging-your-young-adult-to-seek-treatment/.
Impact of Mental Disorders. (2020, July 17). https://teenmentalhealth.org/mental-disorders/.