Identifying when a young person’s mental health might need attention isn’t always easy for those around them, or for the young person themselves.
Many of the reasons young people come to see us at Youth Focus look a lot like everyday life challenges. And as our team remind us, that’s exactly the point.
You don’t need to wait for things to get worse to seek support.
“I think the biggest misconception is that you come to counselling when everything is at its absolute worse, but that’s actually not the case. As soon as you start noticing something is going on, is a good time for young people reach out for support. It’s offering them a checkpoint and a safe place to be able to open up, about the big and small things,” shared Christabel, Youth Counsellor.
Mental health issues in young people aren’t always visible. Some of the signs to look out for include:
- Negative self-talk or being critical of themselves or others
- Avoiding daily activities (e.g. eating, work or school, or socialising with their friends)
- Moods that stick around – constant anger, low energy or irritability
- Sleeping for longer than normal
- No longer want to participate in the things they once enjoyed
- Going through big life events (injury, illness, change of schools, family life, death or loss)
If this sounds like a young person you know, it might be time to consider reaching out for support, such as counselling. Our services can help a young person gain the knowledge and skills they need to feel better than they do.
