I want to help.
What can I do?
Have a friend who’s struggling?
Often as friends and family members, we know someone who is struggling. You may notice changes in their behavior, or behavior that is out of the ordinary such as:
- Being withdrawn
- Changes in their peer group
- Changes in their sleep
- Irritability that is out of character
- Drop in grades or skipping school
- Losing interest in activities they previously enjoyed
- Needing more money yet you are not sure where their money is going.
While it may be difficult, asking about a friend’s wellbeing is not inappropriate. It shows you care. You can tell your friend what you have noticed and express your concern. Ask about their safety – it doesn’t plant the idea in their head to hurt themselves. And be there to listen to them and help them find the help they need.
Resources
Here are some resources to help families/friends talk to youth about mental health
- http://mindcheck.ca/families
- http://mindcheck.ca/get-involved/supporting-your-friend-through-tough-times
- http://mindyourmind.ca/help/my-friend-crisis
- http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talking-about-mental-health
Local resources
- Kids Help Phone
(24 hour service) 1 800-668-6868 - Teen Touch
(24 hour service) 204 783-1116 - Klinic Teen Clinic
(open Saturdays 12:00-4:00pm) 204 784-4090 - Mobile Crisis Unit
(Team Response hours 7:00am – 3:00am) 204 949-4777 - Children’s Emergency 204 787 2401
- Manitoba Child and Adolescent Treatment Center:
Centralized Intake (parents and youth over 16 can self-refer)204 958-9660
Youth Voices
What are some of the things that teachers could do to help?
- Offer alternative approaches
- Be willing to allow for individualized approaches based on a student’s needs
- Be more open to the need for students to have breaks to de-stress
- Understand, and help students understand, that accommodations are not about taking advantage of the system. Sometimes we don’t accept the accomodations when we need them because we feel that way.
- School and the effort required to be at school for someone with anxiety can be draining.
- Special accomodations should not depend on a diagnosis
- Sometimes we need the support of our friends and not just adults.
Advice for parents…
- Don’t threaten your child with “if you keep talking about this, I’ll cry…”
- Don’t say “this couldn’t happen to my child”
- Don’t push your vision for how your child should be
- Don’t assume self harm is an attempt at suicide or respond with anger
- Help your child get access to their medical records, particularly if they request this information
- Communicate with your child the purpose of particular tests
- Be a rock for your children, don’t unload on your child
- Respect your child’s views on treatment and medication
- Mental health doesn’t wait for the right time. Even when it is hard, please try to go with the flow.
- Don’t pressure your child to share
- Be accepting and open-minded
- Don’t give ultimatums
- Do your research on what your child is experiencing
Advice for doctors…
- Don’t make a child feel invisible
- Communicate with the child as well as with their parents
- Recognize that even if a child is shy, they may still want to communicate with you.
- Ask questions and be interested in hearing our responses
- Provide us with as much information as you can
Express Yourself
Submit poems, song lyrics, videos to help others cope. You can send in your artwork, writing, or thoughts to share with the community. We do moderate this content to make sure it’s respectful to all.
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