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Starting Conversations

It can be incredibly hard to talk about mental health and especially hard to ask for help.  Putting our feelings into words isn’t always easy.

Some people feel embarrassed or awkward. Others feel scared about what might happen to them or someone else if they open up and talk. It can be hard to know where to start, what to say first, how to properly describe what’s going on.

BUT talking is really important.

Sharing how we’re feeling with someone who cares about us can really help.


Who might you talk to?

Different people help in different ways. You may need someone just to listen or you may need someone who can provide you with professional advice and treatment.

Someone close to you

Have a think about who cares about you. This might be someone in your life who supports you already or could support you if you felt able to talk to them.

A professional or expert

tidyMinds has put together lots of information about support available to young people in Swansea & Neath Port Talbot.

Your GP can also help work out if it would be helpful to talk to a trained professional such as a counsellor or therapist.

If you are really concerned about your mental health you or someone who supports you can contact the CAMHS Single Point of Contact.

Someone online

Sharing your feelings online can, for some people, be easier than sharing them with someone face-to-face. Sadly there are people online who can take what you share and be unhelpful or hurtful so take some time to decide where might be the safest place.

There are several online services specially designed for young people. Childline’s Message Board has measures in place to make sure your information is confidential and users respect one another.


What might you talk about?

Before you talk to someone it might help to make a plan of what you want to say. tidyMinds gives some suggestions on ways to make this easier.

Planning what to say +

  • Break it down. Write a list with the following headings; I Feel, I Wish, I Think, I Need, I Hope. See what comes to mind when you write down each one.
  • DocReady have put together some tools that will help you prepare for the first time you visit a doctor to discuss your mental health.
  • If writing things down seems too hard consider recording your feelings. Most mobile phones have this function or there are voice recorder apps.

Different Reactions +

  • A doctor or other professional may ask you lots of questions.
  • If you’ve decided to share your feelings with someone who cares about you they may not know how to react at first. Give them a little time; what you’ve shared may come as a shock to them. (You might like to suggest the Rise Above website to them which provides information on how to comfort a friend in need).
  • This YoungMinds guide offers some tips and ideas on who to turn to and how to reach out for help.

Useful Links


DocReady

DocReady have put together some tools that will help you prepare for the first time you visit a doctor to discuss your mental health.

Visit DocReady

Mind- supporting someone you know

Some useful information and tips on supporting someone you know.

Visit Mind

Rise Above

Advice on how to comfort a friend in need.

Visit Rise Above

Find a GP near you

Enter your postcode to find a GP surgeries close to you.

Visit NHS

What’s in Swansea for me?

Take a look through the services in Swansea to see if one might be right for you.

tidyMinds – What’s in Swansea for me?

What’s in Neath Port Talbot for me?

tidyMinds have put together a list of services in Neath Port Talbot that might be helpful to you.

tidyMinds – What’s in Neath Port Talbot for me?

For parents and carers


YoungMinds – How to talk to your child about mental health

If you’re a parent or carer and you’re not sure how to start talking to your child/a child in your care about mental health YoungMinds has created this page full of helpful tips and activities to help you.

YoungMinds

Anna Freud – Advice for parents and carers: talking mental health with children at secondary school

This leaflet created by Anna Freud has been designed to support parents and carers in talking about mental health with children and young people at secondary school.

AF – Talking about mental health with young people