Ask Jigsaw: I want to talk to a professional

Thursday, 16 July 2020

I have a suspicion that I have a serious mental health problem and I really want to talk to a professional but I don’t want my parents or anyone else to know, what should I do?

Hi there,

It sounds like you might have noticed a change in your mental health, which has led you to believe that you have a serious problem. Many people think that having good mental health is about having no problems at all.

Actually, our mental health changes all the time, depending on what happens to us, and how we feel about ourselves. It’s really important to notice a change, as you have, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a serious mental health problem.

Jason

Jigsaw Clinician

It takes a lot of courage to be honest with someone else about our difficulties, but it can really help us to feel better

Now is the time to explore it a bit further, and to find out things that might help. There are lots of ways for you to start, from researching online, to visiting your GP. Check out this article to find out more about when to seek professional support.

You mention that you don’t want to speak to your parents, or anyone at all, about what’s going on for you. However, if you are under 18, the law requires your parents’ consent to access support from a mental health professional, whilst services are different for those over the age of 18.

It takes a lot of courage to be honest with someone else about our difficulties, but it can really help us to feel better. Maybe consider sharing what’s going on for you with someone that you trust in the first instance, it doesn’t have to be your parents initially. It’s a sign of strength to be able to reach out.

Best of luck in taking the first step to feeling better.

Take care,

Jason, Jigsaw clinician