Two thirds of young people with a mental health problem say that fear of judgement has stopped them telling a friend. Getting support from parents, teachers and professionals is important, but having a mate in their corner can make a big difference too. If you’re open about mental health, you can show your children that it’s ok to be open and talk about mental health problems.
Tips:
- Let them know that just being there for their friend can make a big difference, and they don’t have to be an expert to help their friend
- Let them know that you’re there for them, and happy to talk about it and support them if it becomes too much.
- You could do some research online and find out more about the condition that their friend is experiencing – this will help them to build confidence.
- Watch our ‘in your corner’ films with your child, to show how big a difference it can make for them to be there for their friend.
“Luckily, it doesn’t have to be difficult to be in someone’s corner. There are lots of ways you can help, and not all of them have to be as hard as trying to have a direct conversation about their struggles face to face.” – Rachel
