Getting better

HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES

Getting better

HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES

Reviewed by Dr. Frédéric Benoit, psychiatrist

If you haven’t been feeling so great these days, or maybe have a few questions about your mental health, you’ve come to the right place. You’ve taken the first step towards figuring things out! The information in this article can help you name what you’re going through and find solutions— yes, that’s right, there are solutions to your struggles!

Why is it so hard to talk to your parents or others about depression?

There are a number of reasons why you might be reluctant to talk about your mental health:

Fear of being judged
Fear of being seen as weak or unable to deal with your problems
Difficulty talking about your emotions
Bad experiences in the past
Fear of worrying or disappointing those around you
Fear that everyone at school will find out
Believing it will pass
Thinking that nothing will change
Fear of the unknown (what will happen when or after you talk about it)
Worrying that you might be diagnosed with something
Concerns about potential treatments
Worrying that you’ll need to take antidepressants

First step to feeling better

Maybe, in addition to the reasons listed above, you don’t want to talk about your problems for cultural or religious reasons, or maybe you want to protect your image. All of these feelings are normal—but you need to push past them. Talking is the FIRST STEP towards getting better. And most people who reach out for help with their mental health are able to find a solution.

Did you know?

Around 75% of youth experiencing depression aren’t getting help because they don’t talk about it.

⚠️ BUT ⚠️

These days, 80% to 90% of people diagnosed with clinical depression can be effectively treated with medication or talk therapy, which is an incredibly high success rate for any mental health disorder. Clearly, it’s worth talking about!

HOW TO GET STARTED

As you now know, it’s very important to talk to people you trust, such as your parents or your best friend, when you need help figuring out how to deal with depression. Depression in teens is hard to treat without support from loved ones. But keep in mind: 👉 it’s NEVER too late to reach out.

Take your time, but take a chance! When you’re ready to talk:

Tell someone—clearly 🎤 and directly—that things aren’t going well. Their reaction may surprise you!
🖍 Write a letter, or send a text or email instead of talking to the person. This gives you a chance to organize your thoughts.
Bring up your struggles while you’re doing something else, like🏒 playing a sport, 🥯 having a meal, 🎮 playing video games.

What to say

Be sure to create a safety net to catch you if you fall! There really is strength in numbers. Confide in more than one person you trust to get as much support as you can—it could be a friend, a teacher, or even a coach. Of course, talking to your parents about depression (if you have a good relationship with them) or another family member is a good idea, too.

At this point, having support from anyone will help. If you’re feeling down or depressed, leaning on your support network can help you get through it. But if you’re experiencing true depression and your symptoms aren’t resolving, you need to take action and seek help from a professional. School staff, a family doctor, or a psychologist are all good options, so decide based on what’s available to you.

FINDING A PROFESSIONAL TO TALK TO

As we mentioned at the start of this article, you might be reluctant to seek help. And if you put off seeking help and start to see some improvement, you may believe your depression can be left untreated. But skipping this important step makes you more at risk of a relapse in the future.

Here is a list of resources to consider. You can also search online for resources in your neighbourhood or region.

Integrated Health and Social Services Centres (CISSS), which offer free services to teens
Info-Social 811
Walk-in medical clinics
Your family doctor
Community organizations
Youth centres
Free, confidential help lines like Tel-Jeunes, most of which are available 24/7

As you can see, there are plenty of options! It goes to show that there is more than one way to get help. You might not be sure which one is best for you—but the important thing is that you get a diagnosis and start a treatment plan. For resources in your area, click below.

Find local support

Need to talk about what you’re going through?

Talk to a Tel-Jeunes worker: it’s anonymous, free, and available 24/7