A common theme that I have heard over the last couple of years is that youth and/or their loved ones don’t know where to go when they need help. It is very important that help is sought and not ignored, hoping that things will get better on their own. It rarely does and it is not worth the risk. There is a stigma in our country of thinking that getting help is a bad thing, but we all need each other and cannot do this life alone. We must ask for help. We don’t question when someone gets chemo for cancer so why do we question when someone gets medication for a mental illness? Let’s be open about this and continue to break the stigma.
People who can help with Mental Health/Behavioral Health:
Medical Doctors, pediatricians, and neurologists
Psychiatrists (can typically write prescriptions)
Psychologists (can NOT typically write prescriptions)
Licensed social workers
Licensed Counselors and therapists
Nurse practitioners
Peer support providers or specialists – someone who has “lived experience” and who have assisted others with similar experiences. In recent years, several states and national organizations have developed certification process to ensure peer support specialists knowledge and skills that meet the standards of performance.
I want to encourage you to reach out, ask for help, even if it’s starting with a peer… It all starts with us!
Here is a link to more resources that I found could be very helpful - https://www.nami.org/find-support/living-with-a-mental-health-condition/finding-a-mental-health-professional
(It is important while searching online for resources to check to make sure the website is legitimate or credible. I would recommend resources that are .org, also known as non-profit.)
Work Cited:
Mental Health First Aid USA: for Adults Assisting Young People. National Council for Behavioral Health, 2016.