6 Resources for Parents of a Teen with Mental Illness

Good mental health is an essential part of the growth of a child. Children of all ages require strong, loving relationships, and people they can trust with the things that they struggle with. 

Poor mental health can affect your child’s strength, self-esteem, social relationships and physical health. Parenting them during such difficult periods is not easy, but there are resources that can help you. 

Mental health problems can be unprecedented and don’t always have a single cause. No matter what, it is important that you do not place pressure on your child because of their mental illness, but support them through their difficult experience. 

1. BetterHelp

BetterHelp is a free site that offers helpful resources for parents of teens with mental health. From informational articles to accessible, certified mental health care professionals, BetterHelp has all you need to manage your child’s mental health with ease.

Not only can you learn how to better support your child, you can also learn how to better support your family, friends, and yourself.

2. AACAP

The AACAP, or the American Academy Of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is a great resource for parents of a teen with mental illness. The website has a dedicated page for depression related resources for both parents and youth that can help guide you.

The site also includes a lot of information about the various types of mental illnesses that teens can potentially have as well as different places they can find help. 

This resource is great especially if you are new to the world of mental health resources and are unsure about what various terms mean. There are descriptions for almost everything you may need to know on AACAP’s website, and they are also one of the most credible sources to get mental health information from. 

3. Beacon 2.0

Beacon 2.0 is a portal that leads you to various apps, websites and online support groups for mental illnesses that are reviewed and rated by experts. 

You will be able to see reviews of a mental health support group that your teenager may want to join, which can be very helpful in making sure you are seeking out the right resources for your situation.

4. Kelty Mental Health

Kelty Mental Health is an online site affiliated with the BC Children’s Hospital that holds resources for parents that want to support their youth. 

They have tips on how to talk to youth about mental health, parent peer support workers that are available to speak to, and other resources that you can even share with your teen. 

You can also find resources by category if you are looking for something specific. Kelty is a great, well-rounded place to find the teen mental health resources you are looking for. 

5. Reach Out

Reach Out has a great blog for parents of teens, on a very large range of topics. Aside from informative articles, they also have quizzes, forums, and an enlightening “Ask a Professional” section.

They also have areas dedicated to youth, one-on-one support and informative pages on various skills that parents can build to better support their teen. 

6. NAMI

Just like AACP, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is another great, credible resource for teen mental health. They have infographics for how you can start a conversation about mental health, how to notice warning signs of various mental illnesses, and how to take care of your family as a whole. 

There are guides specific to students as well, such as tips for managing the difficult period of transitioning to college. 

More resources geared towards teens include how to help a friend, and taking charge of your mental health. Overall, NAMI provides a holistic, complete view for taking care of your teen, yourself, and your family. 

Conclusion

Having a teen that is living with a mental illness is not easy for you nor them. It can be difficult to see someone you love experience something that impacts them negatively. 

However, there are a plethora of resources available online to help you and your teen navigate difficulties; you are not alone. Go through resources, learn what you can, and find the right help for you and your teen.  

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Author Bio: Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

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