Mental Health @lemmy.world EarthasaurusRex @lemmy.world 1 yr. ago

what i’ve learned researching resources for minors

there seems to be no reliable resource for minors. all of them involve notifying your parents in some way or are there just to prevent you from killing yourself. there are no resources i could find, online or in person, free or paid, that provide private care.

16 comments

You might try this website: https://dontcallthepolice.com/. It lists resources in major cities. I checked several randomly, and all seem to have a "youth" section. When you click on "youth," you may see resources, or you may see "info coming soon."

At the top of that page, there is also a set of "national" listings. There are specific resources for abuse, trafficking, and so on. The most promising general resource seems to be https://teenlifeline.org/. I clicked through to that site, and it appears to have the equivalent of a warm-line staffed by other teens.
- i looked at teenlifeline to see if it was a reliable resource. it seems like the main service is teen counseling with parents. The things that don’t involve parents are the crisis line and warmline. a warmline connecting to other teens isn’t exactly comforting to.
  
  Bummer! I think the walls you're running into are a problematic sign of our times, on the one hand. Like book banning in the name of "keeping our kids safe"—in which case, the Bible has been proposed for banning in a few places that have become over-zealous. On the other hand, while not everybody out there is illegit, there are plenty of scammers and misguided weirdos all too ready to twist and use legitimate need for help to fit their own unsavory or misguided agendas.
  
  You've probably already thought of this, but I'll toss it out there anyway: are there IRL people you can turn to—teachers, school guidance or counselling resources, adult neighbors or friends' parents you trust, older cousins, or organizations like scouting, coaches, etc.? You may want to add to that list. And obviously, if your gut makes even the smallest whisper of '"this is sus, it doesn't feel right," then you owe nobody any excuses for backing away.
This might help you: https://screening.mhanational.org/content/how-can-i-get-help-without-my-family-knowing/
This may be helpful as well: https://warmline.org/warmdir.html#directory
- It seems like the warmline, at least for my state, is mainly for adults, specifically people 18 and older, which I am not.
  
  I think you should call them and find out. Worst thing they can do is say "talk to your parents" you know? Just tell them that you can't talk to your parents about this, and that you need a resource for teens.
  
  And call a different state's number. No rule against that.
What’s your situation? Do you not have the cooperation of your parents?

When I think of “resources for minors” I just think of hiring a therapist.

You could try psychologytoday.com’s therapist finder. Each provider there has listed which groups they serve, and some of them list children/adolescents as their clientele.

Your strategies differ base on whether your parents are helping vs blocking you from finding care.
- i think hiring a therapist for a minor, at least in my state, requires parental consent.
  
  You think or you know? I think that you have to look into it and actually call some therapists.
  
  Which brings me back to my question: do you have the cooperation of your parents or are they blocking you?

You've viewed 16 comments.