Who Can I Talk To? - For Teens

Sometimes it feels like you have no one to talk to about your mental health. This isn't true. So who can you talk to?

School Counsellor - School Counsellors are trained to deal with depressed students. They are not doctors or therapists but they will support you and can even suggest other places you get additional help. They can help with ensuring your school life isn't too demanding and helping you achieve the right grades. If you are unsure if your school has one, check.

School Nurse/Psychologist - I'm not sure how common it is for a school to have a pyschologist but often schools have nurses. If you're unsure if your school has one, check. School nurses and psychologists will be able to support you with your depression. They can provide resources and recommend services. If you're unsure if you have depression, they might be able to give you a clearer picture.

Parent/Carer - This is the simplest one. In the end, your guardian can drive you to the doctors, take you to therapy and help out with any treatment or support you need.

A youth worker - Youth workers are there to help and support teenagers. They can offer you support and won't judge you. They're trained on how to deal with kids' problems. You might not know where to find a youth worker but it can be easy. The leader of my youth club is a youth pastor so I can turn to her if I need to. See if there's someone in your community you can talk to.

CAMHS - CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It is a British organisation to help kids and teens with mental health issues. There are different CAMHS branches across the country and most will have their own website so you can get in touch.

Your GP/Doctor - This is generally the first step into getting professional help. Doctors won't judge you and are only there to help. They will try to ensure you're comfortable.

A helpline - Certain helplines such as Childline will be able to help you find resources and support as well as all helplines being able to offer support if you're in a difficult place at the time of calling. Childline calls do not show up on your phone bill and are completely free but I can't speak for other helplines. You do not need to be afraid. They won't judge you, they only want to help.

A trusted friend - A friend is not a therapist and has their own issues to deal with. This doesn't mean that they can't offer support, though. They can. And, even if they can't, they will understand that sometimes your mental health stops you doing certain things. If they have experience with depression, they may even have resources for you. They can also act as practice for telling an adult and help you prepare.

A teacher or Pastoral staff - A teacher cannot promise confidentiality but they will support you to the best of their abilities and will be able to alert people who can provide more support and help. This is good because it means if you're afraid to talk to someone, the teacher can do it for you.

A family member - Sometimes talking to a parent can be daunting and you may wish to talk to a different family member instead. They can offer you support and help you work up the courage to talk to someone else. It's worth noting that often people with a family history of depression are more at risk to develop it. So, if you're worried about depression and someone else in your family has struggled/is struggling with it, ask them about how they cope(d). They can give you insight and suggest help.

A religious leader - This can be very helpful if your depression is affecting your spirituality. A religious leader will be open and welcoming. Some places of worship also offer therapy services and being able to talk to someone you trust and respect like a religious leader can be a very soothing experience.

An online platform - Like, oh, I don't know, 7cups? 7cups listeners are not licensed therapists but they can still offer support. They are trained in active listening and they care about you. They can't offer you treatment or offline help but if you need someone to talk to, there's always a listener waiting. 7cups does also have therapists accounts. You cannot purchase therapy if you're under 18 but 7cups can help you find a therapist near you.

So, as you can see, you're not alone! You have a lot of options. Don't be afraid. Asking for help is the first step to recovery.

Is there anywhere else you can think of that someone could turn?

YOU FOUND THE Teen Self-Esteem & Body Image (TSEBI) FORUM HUNT CLUE (will be removed after the event is over)

Quote: You have the potential to be the change you want to see.

Don't forget to record the quote and the link of this thread in the forum hunt form!