Words you need to know - Wellbeing
Getting help and support can be hard enough without having to know the definitions of all the new words you encounter. We've put together this list so that you can understand what things mean and be on your way to support faster and easier.
Services
Drop-in centre/service: A place where people who know all about things like employment, legal, health and general welfare can be visited without an appointment.
Online forums: These are communities on the internet where members can chat to each other, usually anonymously. ReachOut Parents have a forum where you can connect with others here and there’s also a forum for your teenager here.
Support group: A group of people with common experiences or concerns who come together to support, comfort and encourage each other.
Youth centre: A place that puts on activities and support for young people (usually up to 25).
People
Coach: A professional who helps plan and achieve your goals. ReachOut Parents have a free coaching program, learn more here.
Social worker: A professional who provides support to improve your wellbeing including addressing disadvantage. You’ll find social workers in a variety of roles like casework, counselling, and community work.
Terms
Domestic violence: Physical, emotional and/or economic violence and aggression within family or intimate partner relationships. Learn more about how to deal with violence in the home here.
LGBTQI: A catch-all term for people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex. Learn more about gender and sexuality here.
Mindfulness: A practice where you look at or observe your thoughts rather than get caught up in them and focus on being grounded in the present rather than the past or the future.
Resilience: The ability to ‘bounce back’ from a difficult situation. Learn more about teaching your teenager to be resilient here.
Self-care: An activity or activities that you do voluntarily to help you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health. Learn more about self-care by watching this video.
Self-talk: This is your inner voice and can be positive or negative ie. “I look great today.” or “Nobody cares about me.”
Sexting: When someone shares explicit texts, images or videos on the internet or their mobile. Learn more about how to approach sexual behaviour online with your teenager here.
Specific mental health difficulties: There are lots of diagnosable mental health difficulties other than depression and anxiety, including Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If you think you or your teenager might have a mental health difficulty it’s a good idea to see a professional. Learn more about getting help here.