How to support a young person with their mental health

Here are five key things to help you support a young person when they open up to you:

1. Listen

Listen carefully when someone opens up to you about how they are feeling. Try to let them share without interrupting. Repeating back what they’ve told you can help both of you be clear about what they’ve said and how they are feeling.

If they are finding it overwhelming, you can suggest they write it down. That way, they can take their time to think about what they are trying to say, without worrying about how it might come across in conversation, or worrying about getting emotional in front of you.

2. Reassure

Often, when someone has opened up about how they are feeling, they might immediately feel worried that you won’t take their feelings seriously, or that they have said the wrong thing. Reassure them that they have done the right thing.

3. Validate

No matter what a young person is struggling with, their experiences are valid and it can be helpful to remind your young person of this. You could say ‘it’s really understandable that you’re feeling…’ to let them know that their feelings are okay.

4. Act

When a young person opens up about how they are feeling, having that time and space to share their concerns with you may be enough. However, if they do need further help, there are a number of services that you can signpost them to. To access all resources, tips and advice to help support young people visit youngminds.org.uk/community-support 

5. It’s not all on you

It’s a great privilege for a young person to reach out to us for help, but it can feel daunting and worrying. Young people aren’t asking trusted adults to have all the answers, fix all their problems or be a mental health expert. From our research, one of the most valuable things you can do is simply to offer to be by their side for the journey.

Deirdre Kehoe is director of training and services at YoungMinds