Put yourself in the young person’s shoes and try to imagine how they’re feeling. Listen to their tone of voice and notice their body language as this will give you clues as to how they’re feeling.
Make it clear they’re not in trouble, and meet in a neutral space which is private and calm. Try and be on the same level as them, for example both sitting down to make the conversation less intimidating.
This means allowing for silences and not filling them. Asking questions such as ‘how can I help you?’, ‘how long have you felt like this’, ‘what kind of support do you think might help?’ or ‘how are you feeling at the moment?’ can help.
When a young person is feeling worried, overwhelmed or unwell, being as calm as possible can help them to feel supported and, in turn, can help them feel calmer themselves. We have tips such as 345 breathing and grounding techniques on our wellbeing activities page.
Respect their feelings, experiences and values even if they are different from yours. Do not judge or criticise because of your own beliefs and attitudes, and try to avoid any language which may evoke shame such as ‘pull yourself together’, ‘you shouldn’t feel like this, your life is fine!’, ‘don’t be silly’.
Websites such as Young Minds have great resources and signpost you to further support, or you may want to make an appointment with their GP as a first step. Asking their permission to do this, or gently signposting them towards this support could help their recovery.
After you’ve had this conversation, remember to follow up with the young person to check with how they’re feeling, and give reassurance that there is support available for them.
Bath Mind regularly offers mental health training courses on both adult and youth mental health and wellbeing. If you’re a parent and/or carer looking to learn skills around supporting your young person with their mental health, taking a look at our upcoming courses page.
Bath Mind is committed to supporting young people in our community. In addition to our specific services for young people, our wellbeing groups and many of our services welcome all over the age of 16 who are registered with a GP in BaNES.
Our Safe Space peer support group is for young people (aged 16-25) to connect and have discussions about their mental health and wellbeing in a safe, supportive place, facilitated by Bath Mind staff and volunteers. There are opportunities to engage in new activities based around the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, such as sharing music, literature, guided art sessions, theatre and physical activity.
To join, contact us on 07538 113890 or [email protected]
Open Space inspires young people to discover new activities, share their ideas, and get creative. Many of our activities take place outdoors, allowing participants to connect with the natural world.
For further information contact us at [email protected]
