Get informed - Parents & Carers

Parents and carers play a crucial role in a young person’s support team. Your involvement makes it easier for a young person to access support, apply new knowledge and practice new skills in their day-to-day lives.

At Youth Focus, the role of a carer is defined by each young person. This role can be filled by many different and significant relationships in a young person’s life, including, family, friends, partners, kin, and people who hold significant emotional, cultural or faith-based roles.

Youth Focus works with parents and carers to ensure the best outcomes for young person. We understand that supporting a young person who is experiencing mental health challenges can be difficult and isolating.

We can only discuss the support we are providing with a parent or carer if the young person has given us their permission.

It is important to take care of your own wellbeing when you are supporting a young person. Here are some ideas:

• Reach out to your support networks and prioritise time for yourself and activities you enjoy.
• If you work or study, many employers and universities offer low-cost or free mental health support through Assistance Programs (EAP) or psychology/counselling clinic
• See a GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan (6-10 Medicare subsidised mental health sessions with a Psychologist or Mental Health endorsed- Occupational Therapist, Nurse, Social Worker)
• Link in with Medicare Mental Health Centres (previously Head to Health) or Community Adult Mental Health Service (CMHS)
• Call Lifeline for someone to talk to.

If you are concerned about your safety or the safety of somebody else, it’s important to seek help immediately, just as you would for any other health emergency.

In an Emergency call 000 or visit your local Emergency Department.

You can also call these National 24/7 crisis services for somebody to talk to,

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• 13 YARN: 13 92 76