Ever wondered how to ask for help if concerned about a mental health problem? This page provides a simple guide on how to take the first steps to talk to friends, trusted adults, and your GP.
Asking for help booklet – click here to download for free*
*Please note: Our resources are developed for a UK audience.
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| Further advice | Details | What they say |
|---|---|---|
| Childline | 0800 1111 (free) | You can talk to us about anything. No problem is too big or too small. Call us free on 0800 1111 or get in touch online. |
| Samaritans | Call 116 123 (free; 24 hours) Email jo@samaritans.org (Response time: 24 hours) | If you need someone to talk to, we listen. We won't judge or tell you what to do. |
| The Mix | Helpline 0808 808 4994 (free; 4pm - 11pm) Also offers email support and a crisis textline | Whether you want a quick chat or more focused help, our trained team is here to help under 25s and young people with their mental health, relationships, work life, school life, depression and any other issues all year round |
| HOPELINE247 (Papyrus) | Call 0800 068 4141 Text 07860 039967 Email pat@papyrus-uk.org (9am - Midnight, every day of the year) | If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice. |
| Parentline/YoungMinds | 0808 802 5544 (free; Monday-Friday from 9.30am to 4pm) | Call our Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25. |
| Shout | Text 'Shout' to 85258 (free; 24/7) | If you are struggling to cope and need to talk, our trained Shout Volunteers are here for you, day or night. Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, anonymous text support service. You can text us from wherever you are in the UK. |
| Campaign Against Living Miserably | Call 0800 58 58 58 or use the webchat (5pm - Midnight; 365 days a year) | Our helpline and webchat are open 365 days a year, offering practical suggestions for all of life’s problems - whether that’s anxiety, relationship concerns, health worries, money worries or suicidal thoughts. Our staff answer a call every 66 seconds - they listen, talk and help people struggling with life to make a plan so they can begin to look to the future. |
| (Page last updated August 2023) |
The first step is to accept that it’s OK to need help.
Before you speak to someone, try and figure out what you need help with. It might be easier to write it down.
Remember, you don’t have to know the reasons why you are feeling the way you are. You just need to be able to put into words or write down what you want help with.
Now find someone you can talk to. Please keep in mind that although friends, family and teachers are often the first people teenagers approach, they are not trained professionals, and whilst most of the time they respond brilliantly because they know you, very occasionally they may not respond in the right way. When this happens, don’t give up, keep talking until you have the answers that will help you.
Friends are often the first port of call. Whilst it is often easier to do this on social media, talking face-to-face about a mental health problem is much better.
Find a good time and place to talk and make sure your friend hasn’t got to rush anywhere. need help with. It might be easier to write it down.
Before the talk, decide on what information you want to share.
You might even want to practise what you would like to tell them.
It’s very useful to tell your friend what you need from them – do you want them to listen, or support you to get some professional help?
Be prepared to answer their questions and also let them know when you are not comfortable to answer.
Friends are not trained in responding accurately so be prepared for a variety of responses.
Finally, be prepared to listen to friends. If they suggest it would be helpful for you to talk to someone who can help, give their suggestion some consideration.
– You may not want to upset them or imagine they might be angry, disappointed, sad or dismissive. Most teenagers feel their parents just won’t understand.
– Try to plan what you are going to say to them first.
– You don’t have to give them details if you don’t want to. Start by telling them the symptoms you feel and how they have been impacting on you.
– Point them to the stem4 website (www.stem4.org.uk) if they need more information.
– Choose a time when they are not rushed and tell them from the start that you would like to tell them everything without interruption.
– Be clear on what you would like from them. Sometimes it might be helpful to discuss things with an older sibling first and ask them to help you tell your parents.
– You can also talk to someone at your school, or your GP, and ask them to help you tell your parents.
– If talking in person is hard, you can also write to them.
– Prepare what you would like to say and what you would like from them once they know.
– Set up a time to talk. You might like to say something like, “I’ve got something private I’d like to talk to you about and wondered if there was a good time for me to set up a meeting with you?”
– You can ask at the beginning of the conversation whether they will be able to keep the conversation confidential. Teachers have to follow the school’s safeguarding rules, so you may want to ask them if they have a duty to tell someone what you tell them and how it may be dealt with as a result.
– You don’t have to tell a teacher all the details. You can describe the symptoms you feel and how they may be affecting you.
– Remember, teachers aren’t trained mental health professionals. If you’re looking for professional support, try talking to your GP who will be able to help
– Your school may have a counselling service which you can ask your teacher to help you to access.
You can call your doctor’s surgery and speak to a receptionist to book an appointment. The receptionist will first ask for your name, date of birth and address and very occasionally they may ask why you are calling. Whilst this is to help them make sure you see the right doctor, it can be difficult to explain this on the telephone, so you can do one of two things: Either say it’s personal and you would like to explain it confidentially to the doctor face-to-face, or prepare a brief comment on what you want to say beforehand – it doesn’t have to be a full explanation. You can give them your main symptoms such as feeling really tired or not sleeping.
If you are over 16 you might be able to book an appointment online if your doctor has a system such as ‘myGP’ – you can check this online using the website for your surgery.
A typical GP appointment is ten minutes. If you think you will need more time, ask to book a double appointment. You can see your doctor on your own.
If you don’t have a doctor you can register with one by yourself if you are 16 years old or above. To find a doctor, please visit www.nhs.uk, look under GP services and with your postcode you should be able to find the doctor most local to you. You will have to go to the surgery and fill in a patient registration form.
Before you see the doctor prepare what you would like to say. Check www.DocReady.org for help with preparation and watch the short video called ‘Find the Words’ on https://www.mind.org.uk/youandyourgp.
