Support for Parents and Carers

Adolescent years can be extremely tough. The occasional bad moods or acting out is to be expected. We start to be concerned when there becomes a persistent pattern of unhelpful emotions and behaviours that begin to impact on their normal functioning and is causing significant distress for the young person. 

It can be hard to know where to go and how to access help for your teen. A good place to start is with your local doctor. They will be able to help and recognise if your teen needs professional support, or if your concerns are just a normal part of development. 

If your teen tells you that they want to hurt themselves or want to die, seek urgent professional help. You can do this by calling your local Mental Health Triage Service (24 hours, 7 days a week free service). For the Bendigo region call 1300 363 788. You can also call 000 or go straight to a hospital emergency department. 

Mental Health Triage will complete an initial risk assessment and develop a care plan, to ensure the management of any immediate risk. This care plan may include a referral through to Get Psych'd after any immediate risk has been assessed and managed. 

Even if you're not sure where to start or what to say, the important thing is to say something. Start the conversation by showing that you are concerned and willing to support them. Provide a space where your teen can share their concerns and what they are going through, listen, without judging or minimising their problems. This can make all the difference and lead to having further conversations around their concerns, and the teen being willing to take the next steps towards seeking professional support. 

Yes. We encourage parents/carers to be involved. 

Separate to your young person's sessions, we offer parent/carer consultations for parents/carers who would like additional support with their teen. A parent/carer consultation can be booked via our online booking portal or by calling us on (03) 4416 3221. Fees for parent/carer consultations are outlined in our Fees Schedule. 

It's important to strike the right balance between involving parents/carers and creating a confidential space for your teen, where they feel comfortable discussing their concerns with their psychologist. In the initial appointment, we discuss this with your teen and explore their key supports (parents/carers, school) and the extent of information that they consent to be shared. 

Establishing the right balance early ensures that your teen knows that we respect their right to privacy, which facilitates their engagement. Where appropriate (and in consultation with your teen) we may include parents/carers towards the end of an appointment to provide updates on progress and/or provide opportunity for involvement in how you can best support your teen within the home environment. 

We also offer parent/carer consultations, which can be booked directly with your teen's psychologist, if required. Fees for parent/carer consultations are outlined in our Fees Schedule.