Family & Friends

When it comes to looking after young people’s mental health, we have a huge role to play as family and friends.

As one of the people who sees and speaks to your loved ones most regularly, you are likely to notice when the young people you care about are acting differently.

Mental health problems don’t discriminate by age. Half of mental health problems in adulthood begin before the age of 14, and three quarters by the age of 24.

Dealing with a mental health problem is never easy, but at a young age it can be particularly confusing and difficult to cope with. It can also be worrying for friends and family members.

Accessing support as early as possible is really important. It’s possible to recover from or learn to manage a mental health problem, and starting this process as soon as possible helps us to feel better sooner.

There’s a wide range of information and resources out there and it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re at all concerned about your mental health, or the mental health of a young person, it’s really important to seek help. Sometimes this can be as simple as discussing it with a friend or trusted adult, as talking about what’s on our minds can be the first step to feeling better. But there may also be times when we need professional help. If that’s the case, making an appointment with your GP is a good place to start. We've got some useful guidance on attending that first appointment.