Older Parents and Mental Health

In today’s society, the awareness of mental health is getting more notice than it did several years ago. There are more mental health services & support programs provided to help people who are suffering. But there are also programs that provide information for parents and families who have a loved one that suffers with mental illnesses. 

When I was growing up, mental health services had less awareness so people suffered in silence. There was not enough funding to provide help for the people, no money to hire doctors and therapists. But also people didn’t really know what mental health was and what caused it to get bad.

When I was diagnosed with various mental illnesses, my parents were clueless as they had never dealt with a situation like that before. The services that were provided for me and my family was known as CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. 

CAMHS is an NHS service that treats young people with mental health difficulties but also emotional and behavioural problems too. There are many services around the UK that have nurses, therapists, psychologists, support workers and social workers built up as a team.

For more information on CAMHS and how to find help visit;  https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/

My experience with CAMHS was not a positive one.But, at the end of the day it helped my parents gain more knowledge about what I was dealing with. But, I felt like everyone was against me and that the sessions I started to have were more for my parents and that I was getting nowhere. 

I had this therapist who I never got along with,as she wouldn’t let me have my say. Being a teenager who had built up years of anger from bullying was really tough and looking back on it, I was a really short-tempered teen! Every little situation that made me angry and I would let it out but it would be on either my parents or the therapists that were trying to help me. One time I walked out on one of my therapy sessions and I slammed the door and broke it. After that I never saw the therapist again. 

My parents were trying so hard to try and help me but I took no notice of that as a teenager. But now I do notice that and I would take back those years to just say to them thank you for supporting me! So for parents who are new to mental health please do some research but most of all never blame yourself for what your loved one is going through just try your best to support them, as one day they will realise what you’ve done for them! It just takes time.

• Mel
  

​