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Next Steps: A Resource Guide for Parents of Youth with Mental Illness

If you're the parent of a teen or young adult with depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, or any other mental health condition, you have probably experienced a wide range of emotions:

 

fear: of the unknown, what the future holds, for your child

anger, frustration, and even rage: at your child and at the seeming unfairness of it all

joy and pride: when you watch your child have a success

 

It's all valid. Raising a child with a mental illness can be challenging. Even worse, we might feel uncomfortable seeking help because we worry about judgment from others. Or, you may be unsure where to find the assistance you need. You may be completely overwhelmed and unsure what step to take next. As a local therapist with almost 20 years of experience working with teens and adults with mental illness and their families, I know that support for parents is critical. After all, families are systems, which means that improvement in one part of the system (the parent) can mean an improvement for your child. And that's especially good news for parents of people with mental illness who may not be ready or willing to get their own treatment, or whose mental illness is treatment-resistant or chronic.

 

Support for parents of youth with mental illness can take several different forms:

 

Practical:

a family member provides rides for your child to go to an appointment

a partner cooks dinner so you can do something that fills your bucket

 

Informational: 

a neighbor gives you a recommendation for a mental health provider

a coworker tells you about a new type of therapy to try

 

Social:

a support group for parents

a network of friends that you spend time with

 

Emotional:

a partner who listens and provides validation

a therapist to talk to

 

Educational:

your child's therapist shares information about your child's diagnosis and treatment

materials such as books, websites, podcasts, online courses, and more


Fortunately, there are many high-quality resources for parents available now. Below is a list of favorite resources that I've gathered over the years:

 

Books:

 

Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions: DBT Skills to Help Your Teen Navigate Emotional and Behavioral Challenges by Pat Harvey and Britt H. Rathbone (worth a read even if your "teen" is now a young adult)

 

Helping Teens Who Cut: Using DBT Skills to End Self-Injury by Michael Hollander

 

You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health―With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families by Ken Duckworth, MD

 

The Mindfulness Solution for Intense Emotions: Take Control of Borderline Personality Disorder with DBT by Cedar Koons, MSW, LCSW

 

Don’t Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor


Websites:

 


 

Or, use your favorite search engine to look up your child's diagnosis  - often there are websites for specific diagnoses

 

Local Support Groups:

 

 

 

General Support:

 

 

Parent Education Courses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Podcasts:

 

Accurate Expression (Spotify, Apple, IHeart Radio, Amazon)

 

Videos:

 

 

 

 

 

Articles: 

 

 


Helplines:

 

The Family Tree 24-Hour Parenting Helpline 1-800-243-7337

 


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If you're the parent of a teen or young adult with mental illness, help is available, for both you and your child! I provide individualized therapy for teens age 16+, adults, and parents of youth with mental illness. Family counseling is also available. Reach out for a free consultation call today - we'll discuss your needs and how I can support you. 



 
 
 

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