Information for young people

What matters is knowing you're not alone, and support is out there.

Having a parent who struggles with their mental health can be confusing and tough. You might feel anxious, angry, sad or like you're carrying too much. You might not feel like talking about it at all. That's okay. There's no right or wrong way to feel. What matters is knowing you're not alone, and support is out there.

Remember, you are not to blame.

Mental health problems can affect how someone thinks, feels and acts, but they’re never your fault. Your parent or carer’s illness isn’t something you caused and it’s not something you can fix on your own.

COMMON FEELINGS

  • Worrying about your parent, siblings, or what might happen next
  • Feeling like you can’t tell anyone
  • Trying to keep everything going at home
  • Feeling sad, angry, guilty or nothing at all

If any of that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Lots of young people go through this, even if they don’t talk about it.

WHAT CAN HELP

  • Learning more about mental health and how it affects families
  • Meeting other young people in similar situations
  • Find something you love, whether that is sport, music, books, or drama
  • Taking a break from stressful things when you can
  • Sleeping, eating and moving your body
  • Making time for friends and fun
  • Asking for help if school feels hard to manage
  • Making space for yourself to relax, do things you enjoy and to just be

WHERE TO GET SUPPORT

Talking to someone you trust, like a friend, teacher, school counsellor or youth worker can help. If you’re not sure who to talk to, we’ve put together a list of organisations that offer confidential support.

WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE?

If you’re worried about a friend, sibling, or family member, talk to an adult you trust or visit our Get help page for confidential, one-to-one support. If it’s an emergency, always call 999 first.

Find help for someone else

I’ve just found out about my parent’s mental health problems. What should I do?

Finding out that your parent has mental health problems can bring up all kinds of emotions — confusion, worry, anger, sadness, even relief if things are finally starting to make sense. Whatever you’re feeling is completely valid. You don’t have to understand everything straight away. Start by giving yourself time to process the news. If you feel able to, talk to someone you trust. You might want to read Kirsty’s story about how she learnt more about her dad’s condition and how she learned to cope with difficult emotions.

Where do mental health problems come from?

It usually happens because of a mix of different things like stress, difficult life events or physical health problems. Just like with any serious illness, it’s important to remember: your parent’s mental health problems are not your fault.  We’ve put together some key information to help you understand what might cause mental health problems and how they affect people. If you want to know more about your parent’s situation, it’s a good idea to speak to their GP or a health professional who knows them. They’ll be able to give you more specific advice.

Who can I talk to?

There’s no one right person — just someone you feel safe with. That could be a teacher, counsellor, GP, youth worker or family member. You can also contact a helpline or join a support group. Just saying “I’m finding things hard at home” is enough to start a conversation. You don’t need to have all the words.

How do I deal with my emotions?

If you have a parent with a mental health issue, you may feel overwhelmed or struggle with difficult emotions. Many people know very little about mental health problems, which may mean that you see negative representatives of mental health problems on TV or through other people. Find out more about dealing with stress. If you’re caring for your parent, it’s important to also try to find ways to look after yourself. Read Mind’s tips on supporting yourself whilst caring for others.

OUR PODCAST

OUR PODCAST

Spotlight: Mya-Rose Craig

Mya-Rose Craig, also known as 'Bird Girl', is a British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, campaigner and author. She talks with Pamela about her untraditional upbringing, and how her family's shared love of birdwatching has helped them cope with difficult times, including her mother's bipolar disorder.

You can listen to all the episode from our podcast My Family, Mental Health...and Me here.

Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify
Listen now
Graphic Element
Sally bear's daddy is in hospital (3-6 years)

Sally bear's daddy is in hospital (3-6 years)

When a parent or guardian is in hospital it can be scary and confusing for young children. NHS South London and Maudsley created the Sally Bear booklet for free for adults to read with small children to help explain and comfort.

Read
Sammy bear's mummy is in hospital (3-6 years) 

Sammy bear's mummy is in hospital (3-6 years) 

A companion booklet to 'Sally Bear', Sammy bear offers an alternative take on the story for when a mother is in hospital. Ideally read for young children with an adult.

Read

REAL STORIES

Cyrus's story

Cyrus's story

Cyrus grew up with a mum who had mental health problems. He shares what helped him cope, what didn’t, and how those early experiences shaped the resilience that took him all the way to representing Great Britain in boxing and becoming an undefeated professional.

Read
Kirsty’s story

Kirsty’s story

Kirsty shares how growing up with a dad who had bipolar disorder affected her, and how learning to talk about it helped her feel less alone and more in control.

Read
MORE STORIES

MORE STORIES

Discover more first-hand stories from people who’ve grown up with a parent or guardian who has mental health problems — sharing what’s helped, what’s been hard and what they’ve learned along the way.

Read more

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