Mental Health

You are not alone

Mental health difficulties can affect young women and young men in differing ways. For example 75% of people with an eating disorder identify as female. Another example would be that sadly men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.

How can I help?

• Mental health is incredibly complex and can present at varying levels. Should you have concerns that your young person may be struggling with their mental health encourage them to speak to their GP with you. If your young person really doesn’t want to speak to a doctor you could instead speak to other professionals such as school or third sector organisations that support young people’s mental health
• There is still a huge amount of stigma around mental health. Try and have open and honest conversations about mental health as a family to reduce this stigma
• Particularly with teenage boys discuss ‘toxic masculinity’. Toxic masculinity is the idea that men and boys must adhere to the ‘traditional male gender role’ meaning that they do not express emotions readily and the idea that ‘boys don’t cry’. Toxic masculinity could contribute towards male mental health, promoting expressing their emotions via aggression or struggles with sexuality. Discuss with your young person that this is an outdated idea and that it is important that boys talk about their feelings
• If your young person discloses that they are thinking about or have a plan to take their own life always take this seriously. NEVER downplay it by saying things like ‘you wouldn’t do that would you?’ or ‘don’t be silly’. Phrases like this will make it less likely for your young person to speak to you about this again and could heighten their risk. Speak to them about it and call 999 in an emergency
• You could create a mental health safety plan with your young person. Some ideas of what you could include: