If you are having thoughts, feelings and emotions that are affecting your daily life, you might be struggling with your mental health.
For example, you might be feeling more worried or down than usual, having problems with eating, self-harming or struggling with any of these other feelings and symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these, it’s a good idea to speak to someone so you can get the help you need. You might want to start by seeking help from your GP.
GP stands for 'general practitioner'. This is a doctor who provides overall care to look after both your physical and mental health. They can help you get the support you need.
Going to the doctor's to discuss how I'd been feeling was a scary thought, but I knew that only positives could come from it.
Remember: you are not alone
However you’re feeling, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your GP – it is part of their job to support us with our mental health.
Your GP can help you out with things like:
- letting you know what support is available to you through the NHS or private services
- suggesting different types of treatment like counselling and therapy, or medication
- offering regular check-ups to see how you’re doing
- finding local support groups for your mental health
- explaining what the next steps are in getting you support
Preparing for your appointment
Booking an appointment
You’ll need to book an appointment to speak to your GP.
Before the appointment it’s good to think about what you want to get out of the appointment, what you want to talk about, and the questions you want to ask.
Don’t know your nearest GP?
Taking notes can help you keep track of what you need to say and can help you remember important topics that you may have missed out.
Preparing what you want to say
A good starting point is to make a list of things you want to talk about. This can be how you’ve been feeling, what you’re struggling with, or questions you want to ask. Writing things down can help you think about how you’re feeling and prepare you for the appointment. You can take the list with you so you remember what you want to say, or you can hand it to the GP at your appointment.
You can use docready to build a checklist of what you want to talk about. They have different topics you can choose from to create a list that you can take with you.
You might find it helpful to chat with someone you trust, like a friend or family member, about the appointment. Try practising what you want to talk about and questions you want to ask to help you feel comfortable talking about your mental health in the way you want to.
You could also ask someone you trust to come and wait with you before your appointment. If you want to, they can come into the appointment with you. But talk to them beforehand about how you want them to support you. Remember, there is no pressure to take someone into your appointment - it is up to you.
What do you want to get out of the appointment?
Making your voice heard is important, and it's your right to speak up. You know best how you’re feeling, so don’t be afraid to tell your GP what you want.
Below are some tips to help you feel in control of your appointment.
At the start of your appointment, set out what you want to discuss (or hand over your list if you've made one).
Be honest. This can be difficult, but it’s really important. This will help your GP get a better idea of the support you need. Remember, it is part of a doctor’s job to help patients with their mental health. Even though what you are going through and feeling might be new to you, it is likely they have seen others with similar problems.
Your GP will ask questions to work out the best way to support you. If you’re not sure about something, or don’t understand something they have said, you can ask questions too - it’s your appointment. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed; they are there to help you.
If you want to take medication for your mental health, discuss this with your GP.
They will discuss with you why you want to take medication. They may offer alternative treatments, which you can chat through. If they do talk about other options, this doesn’t mean they’re ignoring what you want, but you can always ask to speak to another doctor for a second opinion if you disagree.
If you are offered medication but you don’t want to take it, that’s okay. Talk openly with your doctor about what concerns you have and whether there are any other options for you. It is important that you feel comfortable with your treatment.
If you’re already on medication and don’t want to take it anymore, it's important to speak to your doctor before you decide to stop. It is your choice to stop, but the GP can explore with you alternative treatments or dosage options so you can make an informed decision. They'll also help you plan a gradual stop and avoid withdrawal effects.
For more information about taking medication for your mental health, have a look at our guide to medications.
If you want to talk about getting counselling or therapy with your GP, they’ll speak to you about your mental health, what options there are, and the next steps for you. If you and your GP decide counselling is the best option, they’ll organise a referral.
The services available will depend on your age and location. If you are under 18, your GP is likely to refer you to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This referral can mean that you might be put on a waiting list. The GP might suggest other ways you can be supported while waiting for counselling.
If you’re already doing counselling and you’re not happy with it, you can speak to your counsellor. If you’re not comfortable discussing it with your counsellor, you can also speak to your GP. You can talk to them about why you’re not happy with the counselling and what you want to change.
It’s okay if you’re not happy with the counselling. Those sessions are a space to support you. For more information on counselling and what to do if you are unhappy with the sessions, have a look at our counselling and therapy page.
Sharing your struggles with someone else and letting them help you is not something to feel guilty about. Communication is the key.
What to do if you're not happy with the result of your appointment
If you don’t agree with the treatment suggested to you, or you want another opinion to make you feel more certain with the treatment, you can ask for a second opinion. Just ask your GP to recommend someone else who will assess you.
Before deciding to get a second opinion, it's best to speak to your GP about your reasons, as you can work through what you want from the appointment together.
It can take time to work out what’s best for you. If you are finding it difficult to get what you need or feel uncomfortable with a particular doctor, you can ask the surgery to give you an appointment with a different one.
Will my doctor tell my parents/carers what I tell them?
When you talk to a doctor, everything you tell them is confidential – this means that they will not tell anyone else unless you agree otherwise.
Your doctor may encourage you to talk to your parents or carers, as it can help if the people looking after you know what’s going on. If you’d like your parents or carers to know what’s going on but don’t feel comfortable telling them yourself, you can ask your doctor to speak to them for you.
Your doctor may have to tell someone if they think you or someone else might not be safe, but they will try to let you know first. In these cases, they would generally talk to social services or the police rather than your family.
If you have any questions about confidentiality, talk to your GP.
Questions to ask your GP
- I don’t understand what that means for me – can you explain it?
- What does a referral mean?
- What’s the waiting time from a referral to start counselling
- Where can I get help while I wait for counselling/CAMHS?
- What does counselling mean?
- What’s the difference between therapy and counselling?
- How will medication help me?
- Will the medication have any side effects?
- How long does it take for the medication to start working?
- How much of what I talk about with you is confidential?
- How will counselling help me?
- What’s the difference between taking medication and going to counselling?
- Do I need to see you again?
Don’t give answers that you think your doctor or therapist wants to hear, give them honesty and truth because it’s their job to help you, and that’s what they really want to hear.
Your rights and accessibility
Your rights
Understanding your rights helps you to be in charge of your own treatment. Your GP should discuss confidentiality with you and explain when they may have to share information about you.
You should always:
- be asked for your consent if possible before treatment options are agreed
- be given what you need to make decisions, e.g. an interpreter if you need one
- know how to complain and what the complaint process is
- be given access to an independent advocate if you need to complain
Under the UN's on the Rights of the Child, your opinion must always be taken seriously when decisions are made about your treatment. Read more about your rights under the UN laws.
What information is shared and with whom may depend on your age, support needs and risk level. If you are under 18, a GP may have to disclose information to protect you from serious harm. This is only done in particular cases and depends on each person’s case.
Accessibility for your appointment
It’s your right for your appointment to be accessible. When you register at your doctor’s surgery, they should ask you if you have any accessibility needs. This will go on your record so they can organise support. If they do not ask you when you register, you’ll need to let the doctors know.
Ways your GP can make appointments more accessible:
- providing a chaperone (someone to go with you) for your appointment
- providing a BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter when you visit your GP
- providing information in a way that is more accessible if you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss. It can be what format you need information in, the best way to contact you or ways to support your communication needs.
- making the surgery accessible if you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss
For more information on accessibility in surgeries and the NHS, see the Accessible Information Standard.
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Please be aware that this form isn’t a mental health support service. If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.
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