Your mental health as a teen
You might know exactly what is bothering you, or just feel that things are harder. You do not need the perfect words to ask for help. Start with what matters to you, then explore what a support conversation can look like.
Start with how things feel for you.
Mental health can affect your feelings, energy, relationships and everyday activities. Changes that trouble you or get in the way deserve attention; you do not have to decide on a diagnosis first.
Your own account is part of understanding your needs. An appointment should make room for what you want help with and the questions you bring.
Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS
Your questions belong in the conversation.
- Your starting point
What you want someone to understand
- Your preferences
What helps you communicate
- Your privacy questions
Who sees information and when it may be shared
- Your next step
What happens next and who you can contact
You can begin with what you want someone to understand.
You might know that school, home, friendships or sleep feel harder without having a name for it. You can ask for help with that experience. You do not have to choose a diagnosis first.
A first conversation can cover one concern. You can say that something is difficult to explain and ask for time or a different way to communicate.
Choose the topic that matters to you.
These sections help you find information. Choosing one does not suggest a diagnosis.
For someone supporting a child
Information for parents, carers and other trusted adults.
Understand & exploreFind your starting words
Bring one question or one thing you want someone to understand.
Understand & exploreAsk about privacy
Understand who may see information and when help needs to be shared.
Understand & exploreYou do not need a polished explanation.
You could start with one thing that has become harder, or one question about help. Write it down if speaking feels difficult. You can ask someone you trust to help you arrange an appointment or explain how to contact a service.
You can ask how long you may wait, what support is available in the meantime and who to contact if you feel worse. Do not wait for a routine appointment if you are unsafe.
Ask what stays private, and what may be shared.
Before sharing something sensitive, you can ask who will see the information and when a professional may need to involve someone else to keep you or another person safe. You can also ask whether part of the appointment can be just you and the professional.
The answer depends on your circumstances, the service and local rules. Nobody should promise that every safety concern will stay secret. Ask the professional to explain what would happen and how they would involve you.
You can begin with one part of your day.
These are conversation starters. You can choose what feels relevant and leave the rest; they do not give you a score or tell you what you have.
Your day
Something that has felt harder at school, at home or with other people.
Your feelings
A feeling or change that you want someone to understand.
What helps
An activity, person or place that helps things feel more manageable.
Your questions
A question about getting help, waiting or what happens at an appointment.
Choose a way to start that suits you.
These are optional ways to open a conversation, not a task list you need to finish.
Fictional examples to explain an experience. They are not a checklist or a diagnosis.
Say one thing
“I have been finding things difficult and would like some help.”
Show a short note
A sentence about what has changed can be enough to start.
Ask for company
A trusted person might help you contact a service or explain a question.
Ask about the conversation
You can ask what they need to know before deciding what to say.
You deserve to understand the appointment.
A professional may ask about your day, health, feelings and the support around you. You can say when a question is unclear, bring notes or ask what the conversation is for.
Ask whether you can speak with the professional on your own and what choices are available. Services and rules differ by place and situation; you can ask for an explanation rather than guessing.
Based on NHS
- 1What matters to you?
Choose one thing you would like help with.
- 2What would help you speak?
Ask about notes, someone beside you or time on your own.
- 3What happens next?
Ask who to contact, including if things get harder.
You can ask about privacy before sharing details.
Ask who can read your information, who may be involved and when safety concerns mean information needs to be shared. Rules differ by age, location and service; a website cannot promise that everything stays secret or that family is always told.
You can also ask about private time, communication adjustments and how decisions will include your preferences.
Based on NHS
Leave with a clearer idea of what happens next.
Ask who to contact, what support is available, what waiting may involve and what to do if things change. If the explanation is confusing, ask for it in simpler words or in writing.
Different services offer different kinds of help. Asking why an option was suggested and how it will be reviewed can help you understand the plan.
If one conversation does not help, another route is still possible.
You could approach another trusted adult, a school or college support professional, or a local health service. Ask for help finding an appropriate youth service if the first person cannot provide it.
If home is unsafe, tell an appropriate professional or local child-protection service. Immediate danger needs local emergency help; you do not need to wait for a routine referral.
- Support around studying
Information about learning demands, access and practical circumstances.
You deserve to understand your care.
Your view matters. Support should include your questions, needs and preferences.
Understand the appointment
Find support. Prepare your next step.
Find care or prepare a conversation. You can ask for help before you have a diagnosis.
Your first sentence does not need to be perfect.
A trusted adult, primary-care professional or appropriate school contact may help you find local support. If telling one person feels difficult, you can consider another safe person. A short note about what is bothering you can be a starting point.
Based on NHS
“I want some help with how I have been feeling. I would like to understand my options, what stays private and what happens next.”Prepare for the appointment
Your questions, with room for nuance.
You can read just the answer you need.
Do I have to speak aloud?
You can ask to write, show a short note or use another communication method. Tell the service what would help you take part.
What if I cannot explain everything?
Begin with one concern or a question. You can ask for time and help finding words; a complete life story is not required to start asking for support.
Based on NHS
Can I ask who will be told?
Yes. Ask about privacy and its limits, who sees records and how information-sharing decisions are explained. The answer depends on your service and local rules.
Based on NHS
Is an adult online test a shortcut?
Adult questionnaires may not fit young people. A youth professional can consider suitable approaches and wider context. Reading this page does not require completing a test.
Based on NIMH
Where this information comes from.
Use this hub to learn and prepare questions. It does not diagnose you or recommend a personal treatment plan. By Selfmora editorial; sources checked . Updated .
Additional explanations and examples: sources consulted . Examples illustrate ideas; they do not assess your personal health. Your questions
- Children and mental health: recognizing concerns and getting help
- Talking to your child about feelings
- Where to get mental health support as a young person
- What happens when a young person's needs are assessed
- Receiving mental health support as a young person