EN AF OS logo - Væk med tavshed, tvivl og tabu om psykisk sygdom. EN AF OS logo - Væk med tavshed, tvivl og tabu om psykisk sygdom.

Young people - get in touch

Most mental health problems begin when people are still in their youth. Almost eight percent of young people between the age of 15 and 25 have or have had a mental illness. This means that three students in each classroom deal with mental illness or serious mental difficulties.

Talk about it - it could be your path to help

In many cases, family, friends or professionals can help you if you are young and experience mental health problems. It is important that you or others take action if you experience symptoms. However, if you do not ask for help, it can sometimes be very difficult for others to find out whether you need it and whether to act.

Even if people around you sense that your behaviour has changed, there can still be doubt. Doubt about if what they see are symptoms that result from actual illness or simply a result of, for instance, going through puberty or a rough patch that everyone might encounter from time to time.

You are not alone

If you are or were dealing with mental illness or know someone who is, you are not alone. Therefore, it is important that we all get better at talking about mental illness and reach out to one another if we sense that there is need to talk.

If a friend of yours is having mental health problems:

  • Talk to each other. Friends, family, professionals or others play an important part in recovery.
  • Do not underestimate the problems.
  • Do not be afraid to voice your concerns. Dig in, and do not give up, even you encounter rejection.
  • Ask “How do you feel?” instead of asking “Do you feel good?”
  • Respect the feelings of your friend or the young person – even if they are hard to understand.
  • Be open and make sure to address the difficult thoughts and situations as well.
  • Keep in touch and maintain your friendship; be yourself and do what you usually do together.   

Activities

The ONE OF US campaign is working towards reducing prejudice and silence surrounding mental illness. The aim is to make it easier for you and your surroundings to open up and ask for help and support if you or someone you know is having mental health problems.

ONE OF US visits educational institutions to create awareness of the need for open dialogue about mental illness among young people and their teachers. We hand out materials and make presentations where young ambassadors with lived experience of mental illness share their experience of being young while having mental health problems and going through a process of recovery.