What if my teen doesn't want help with their mental health?

ReachOut Content Team
Published 24 November 2023

If your teenager is having a rough time, one of the best things you can do is help them see a mental health professional like a psychologist, counsellor, or social worker. However, even if they're in distress, some young people refuse professional help. There are lots of different reasons for this– maybe they don't believe a professional could help them, maybe they're rather go at their problems alone, or maybe they feel embarrassed to speak to somebody they don't know.

In this video, our host Bryden sat down with Carl Nelms, a registered psychologist who's been helping young people and their parents for years. They discuss why young people refuse help and how parents can respond.

Read the transcript.

Here are a few things we learned:

  • You can't force a young person to see a mental health professional. If your teenager repeatedly refuses help, the best thing you can do as a parent is continue to provide your own support, care and guidance. That way, if they ever change their mind, they'll know you'll be there to give them a hand.

  • The rapport a mental health professional has with a young person is so important. That's why if a young person is able to go online and take an active role in finding their own psychologist or counsellor, it might help them feel more engaged in the process and find someone they can really relate to.

  • If your teen doesn't think they have a problem, it might be helpful to explain to them that seeking professional help isn't only for people who are unwell. Mental health professionals give people strategies for dealing with life's challenges no matter what their wellbeing is like currently.

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              Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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