Directory of resources for parents and young people
Lots of people are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, and we know that it can be overwhelming to find help.
This can be especially difficult for parents, particularly because they often prioritise their children’s needs above their own, inadvertently overlooking their own self-care.
We also know that it is really important to get help, and the sooner the better.
There are lots of options, and we have listed some of them here.
How do young people search for mental health information online?
In the UK, 83% of teens aged 12-15 have a smartphone, and many will use online sources to navigate their teen years, including mental health problems such as low mood. Online help-seeking has the benefits of anonymity, easy access, and a level of privacy, yet understandably, parents may wonder how and what kind of mental health information their teens may be browsing online.
In the spotLight on Adolescent and young adult Mood Problems (LAMP) research group at the University of Bath, we recently did a study where we interviewed teens aged 15-18 to find out where they look for help online when they become worried about low mood, and what they think of the resources they find.
Here are three things from our findings that may be useful for parents to know
- Teens are savvy regarding the credibility of online information
- Sources made with teens in mind are valuable
- Help-seeking is a personal journey