Supporting a young person experiencing a mental health crisis is a distressing reality for many parents and carers.

Where can you turn for help? How do you respond? How do you offer support?

In the latest episode of Kids Health Matters our guest expert answers these and other difficult questions and provides insight and advice to help understand and support a young person in crisis.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Crisis Connect Veronica Plej shares expertise from her three-decade nursing career including specialising in youth mental health over the last 9 years.

Veronica emphasises a young person who feels secure and supported is more likely to reach out for help. This is one of the key messages to emerge from this two-part discussion. 

Veronica also shares practical advice on:

• identifying what constitutes a crisis compared to a ‘rough patch’
• how to start a conversation if you are concerned about signs of withdrawal or depression
• what are the signs of depression and
• how to respond to a child who is refusing to go to school.

Veronica recommends that generally less talking and more listening in these incredibly stressful situations tends to be more helpful. 

Don't miss the second part of this conversation to learn how the CAMHS Crisis Connect service can help, supporting young people and their families.

CAMHS Crisis Connect can be contacted on 1800 048 646.

It is a free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Perth metropolitan service. 

Kids Health Matters provides trusted advice on common child health concerns from leading experts at the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).

The podcast is proudly produced by CAHS which includes Neonatology, Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Perth Children’s Hospital.

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