Young People waiting an average of 304 days for mental health support*

Before calling YoungMinds Parents Helpline I felt I had nowhere else to turn. I have a great support network, but my child’s difficulties were scary and no-one knew what advice to give. On the helpline I spoke to a qualified professional who was able to address every one of my fears. She validated my experiences and made me feel like I wasn’t going mad. After this conversation I was able to communicate with my child in a much clearer way, which led to a calmer approach from the whole family. Without YoungMinds Parents Helpline I would have been absolutely lost, and I think both mine and my child’s mental health would have become significantly worse. That call was absolutely life changing for my whole family.

No young person should have to wait hundreds of days for mental health support, but this is the shocking reality for thousands of young people. We hear about the many different pressures young people are experiencing and the calls YoungMinds advisers handle are often complex. It can be incredibly daunting and worrying for parents who are unsure about how to support their child, whether talking about it for the first time or being there for them while waiting to access services. We’re incredibly grateful to M&S for their support which has helped us provide vital guidance and advice to young people and the adults in their lives. YoungMinds Parents Helpline supports parents and carers in some of their most difficult moments and funding like this helps make sure we can be there for those who need us.