Mental illness resources – children and adolescents

Good mental health and wellbeing is when everything is ok, you feel happy, can enjoy life and have fun with family and friends. Sometimes things can be a bit hard and you might feel very sad or upset. When you feel like this there are people who can help.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) recognises the importance of information for children and families on the wellbeing, treatment and recovery of children and young people with a mental illness.

There are many organisations and services which provide information, support and counselling for children and adolescents with a mental illness, and their families.

Children

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline (external site) is a counselling service for children and young people aged 5 to 25. You can call Kids Helpline on 1300 55 1800.

The website has information on:

  • cyberbullying
  • exam stress
  • family breakups
  • fights with friends
  • peer pressure
  • risky behaviours
  • taking risks.

headspace

headspace (external site) helps young people aged 12 to 25 who are going through a tough time, providing support for problems such as:

  • anxiety
  • alcohol and drugs
  • bipolar disorder
  • body image
  • bullying
  • depression
  • eating disorders
  • friendship
  • grief
  • medications
  • psychosis
  • relationship breakups
  • self-harm
  • sexuality and gender identity
  • sexting
  • trauma.

itsallright

Itsallright (external site) shares the diaries of 4 teenagers, based on real stories, as they deal with the challenge of living with mental illness in their family.

The site provides information and a referral service on mental illness, including:

  • anxiety disorders
  • cyberbullying
  • depression
  • schizophrenia.

ReachOut.com

ReachOut.com (external site) helps young people under 25 find motivation to get through the really tough times and helps young people explore topics, such as:

  • adoption
  • bipolar disorder
  • body dismorphic disorder (BDD)
  • bullying
  • child abuse
  • eating disorders
  • loss and grief
  • mental fitness
  • mental health
  • obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • personal identity
  • post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • relationships
  • resilience
  • self-harm
  • sex and gender
  • sleep problems
  • social skills
  • stress.

youth beyondblue

youth beyondblue (external site) has a specific focus on young people aged 12 to 25 years.

It also includes ways friends and family can support a young person going through a hard time.

The site contains information on a range of topics, including:

  • attention defecit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • alcohol and drug use
  • anxiety
  • bullying and cyberbullying
  • depression
  • eating disorders
  • family breakups
  • gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex
  • loss and grief
  • medications
  • self-harm
  • sleep problems
  • stress
  • suicide.

e-couch

You need to register to use this site. Registration is free and users create their own username and password.

e-couch (external site) is a self-help interactive program which provides information about emotional problems.

Through exploring topics you can find information and tips to deal with issues, such like:

  • depression
  • anxiety and worry
  • social anxiety.

Orygen Youth Health

Orygen Youth Health (OYH) (external site) is a Melbourne-based mental health organisation for people aged 15 to 25.

Fact sheets (external site) are available on a range of topics, including:

  • anxiety
  • borderline personality disorder (BPD)
  • depression
  • eating disorders
  • medications
  • self-harm.

Child and Youth Health

Child and Youth Health (external site) is part of the Women's and Children's Health Network in South Australia and provides information on:

  • adoption
  • anxiety and worrying
  • bullying
  • family conflict
  • feeling lonely
  • healthy mind
  • kids health
  • teen health
  • relationships
  • society and you
  • starting high school.

Bursting the Bubble

Bursting the Bubble (external site) has information on how teenagers can identify violence and abuse within the family, and what can be done to help.

  • child abuse
  • domestic violence
  • sexual abuse.
Families

There are many organisations and services that provide information, support and counselling for families with a child with a mental health condition.

A range of information sheets are available on the Kids Matter website (external site).

These information sheets have tips and strategies on common childhood issues to help families support children’s mental health and wellbeing, and to recognise if and when professional help is needed. Kids Matter provides information on the following topics.

Parents of babies, toddlers and pre-school children

  • Healthy relationships and families
  • Promoting mental health in early childhood
  • Risk and protective factors in early childhood
  • Supporting children’s mental health: Suggestions for families and staff
  • Understanding mental health in early childhood
  • Responding to children who may be experiencing mental health difficulties
  • How mental health difficulties affect children

School-aged children

  • Children and hardship
  • Children and grief
  • Mental health risk and protective factors
  • Getting in early for mental health and wellbeing
  • Knowing when to get help
  • How mental health difficulties affect children
  • Recognising mental health difficulties - suggestions for families

Support for talking to children

The Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) website (external site) has fact sheets with tips for:

  • talking with teenagers about parental mental illness
  • talking with primary school aged about parental mental illness
  • talking with toddlers about parental mental illness
  • communicating with babies about parental mental illness.

Parenting for dads

  • Parenting – being a Dad
  • Understanding and managing mental illness
  • Looking after your emotional wellbeing
  • Looking after your physical wellbeing
  • Partners in parenting
  • Finding support

Translated resources are also available in 7 other languages including Arabic, Chinese, Dinka, Hindi, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese.

Remember

  • You are not alone – many young people will be experiencing the same challenges.
  • There are services that can work with you to support recovery.

Where to get help


Last reviewed: 02-11-2021
Acknowledgements

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)


This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

Link to HealthyWA Facebook page