These come from my personal experience.
Q: I can’t afford therapy/medications. What should I do?
A: You are not alone, especially in today’s economy. Talk to your physician, therapist, school counselors, school social workers, pharmacist. Someone will have resources for you. Bottom line: if you think you can’t afford help, ask yourself if you can afford a funeral.
Q: How do I find a counselor/therapist?
A: See Resource section titled ‘Counselors’
Q: I’m thinking about suicide, but I can’t tell my mom/dad. They will freak out. What should I do?
A: Get help – now. Although what you are feeling is not unusual, you need to get immediate help. No matter what you may think, your parents love you and the worst thing that could happen in their lives would be to lose you. Tell them how you are feeling. Ask them for help. They probably realize something is going on with you, but don’t know what – or what to say or do. They may be too preoccupied with their problems to see what is going on with you. Or they may think your going through ‘normal’ teen issues. Ask an adult/friend to talk to them with you – or for you. Do not keep this to yourself. Ask someone for help. If your parent won’t/can’t help, tell a trusted adult: teacher, counselor, family member, neighbor, religious leader. If you are in thinking about/planning suicide right now, call a help hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 911. Keep asking until someone helps.
Q: I’m struggling, but my parents don’t think I need professional help. How do I get them to listen?
A: Be direct. As a parent, I can tell you we can be a bit preoccupied with our own lives and some of us are just dense. If you are hinting, they may not hear you. In addition, the thought that our child needs help we can’t provide ourselves can be a little scary. If they don’t help, tell a trusted adult: teacher, counselor, family member, neighbor, religious leader. Ask them to talk to your parent for you. Keep asking until someone helps.
Q; Therapy alone isn’t working, but my parents don’t think I need medication. what should I do?
A: Ask your parent why? It may be financial, fear of a stigma, basic misunderstanding or ignorance of depression. Tell them how you are feeling and why you think you need medication. Get your counselor to talk to them. Consider printing info for them from a reliable source and/or writing them a note about how you are feeling. Keep asking until someone helps.