Where to find help for depressed teenager?

[MrsFogi]

One of my dds has been "feeling sad" all the time for months (from pre-covid) and tells me she feels she needs to talk to someone to "just understand what is going on". So I'd like to find a counsellor for her to talk to (or someone - not quite sure what I am looking for?) but have no idea where to start. Can anyone suggest how I should go about looking for someone reputable?

Where are you posting from? In the UK there are a few paths but I think it would depend on their age. I know adults can self refer to Self Help services which will get you in to see a counsellor but I'm not sure if that starts at 16 or 18. Otherwise it may be a case of seeing if she is comfortable going to a GP to see about a CAMHS referral. Also try to get them into good self care habits as this will likely to be one of the first suggestions from professionals such as talking through feelings, journaling, meditation. Blurt has some good resources for that.

Hope you find something soon ❤

Thanks @SoSpooky we are in the UK.

Might be worth asking her school if there are any other mental health services for young people in your area. In our local area she would struggle to meet the criteria for Camhs or have a very long wait to see them. However there is a new mental health Barnardos service starting up and some mentoring services etc for young people.

I spoke to the member of staff at school who oversaw the pastoral care for looked after kids, those using CAMHS, etc. after googling local therapists who specialised with teenagers and asked if they knew them or had heard of them.

Alternatively, your GP practice may have links on their website. If not, you could contact them directly.

RELATE offer 8 free one hour face-tp-face teen counselling sessions. it might be that Covid has temporarily moved these to online, but as a general rule, you can apply for sessions in your local area and the first eight are free. If you wish to continue after that, you can arrange a fee based on your income.

Hi, our DD is 13 and has been referred to CAMHS for depression and severe anxiety but they won't offer face to face sessions till September at the earliest, they will offer video or phone calls. My DD hates FaceTime or talking over the phone so we have had to go private for now who will offer socially distant face to face sessions.

Depression is really hard not just for your child but for you and the family too. Make sure you are looking after yourself as well, it's so easy to get caught up in finding ways to help them that you can neglect yourself. Our DD only opened up just how low she was last year but said she has been feeling very low for the past 3 years. The signs had been there but I just hadn't picked up on them.

I don't know if your child struggles with sleep (ours does)? Our DD has been put on a trial of melatonin to see if this helps. We've got everything crossed that if we can crack her sleep deprivation then it may improve her mood.

Oh and by the way you can also refer your child to CAMHS, you don't have to have a GP letter. It helps to have to hand what she struggles with, we keep a diary.

Generally CAMHS have a big waiting list and currently their services are stretched to the max- I would advise you speak to the school as they can provide access to educational psychologists. You can also search for a local counsellor on this site:

www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

I have been there with this - just give dd lots of love and attention but also allow her some space and don't force her to talk if she doesn't want to. Asking "are you ok" just makes them feel more anxious.

Hope she gets the help.

Just enter your postcode and it brings up profiles of local counsellors.

I wouldn’t imagine camhs will be able to offer much in the way of support. A colleague recently urgently referred a child who had attempted suicide at school. They got a call back three weeks later to say there was an 18 month waiting list.

If a child attempts suicide CAMHS should treat this as an emergency - cannot believe they did that. It would be urgent admission to hospital.

I've been told that Camhs in our area will only see a child after two suicide attempts. Ds is autistic and was talking about no longer being here and the way in which he would die and he did not meet the criteria for support.

Mrs hope you find the right support for your Dd.

If you are okay to pay for counselling then these guys are good www.wellbeing-clinic.co.uk
If not, then a talk with a GP or a head teacher could help with s CAHMS referral, but as others have said in some areas it can be up to 18 months waiting list

Slightly different: futurelearn.com is running a free online course called "Understanding Depression and Low Mood in Young People". It is very good and includes many resources. There is a long list here: www.futurelearn.com/courses/depression-young-people/5/steps/703560.