Sometimes when you go through a tough time, you may need someone to talk to. If you think about it, talking to someone who is willing to listen really makes a difference and sometimes the best people to talk to may be your own family.
There might be one member of your family that you can talk to or several. Some families have “family meetings” to go over problems or big decisions. Talking to an older family member can be good because they may have had a similar problem or concern in the past. Sometimes a family member that is not in your immediate family like an uncle, auntie, cousin or grandparent might be the right person to talk to.
It is natural to feel like you don’t want to let them down with your personal problems but remember in most families, they only care about you.
I feel like I can’t talk to anyone in my family about my problem. There are some families where it might not be okay to talk to them about your problems. Or some problems that you would not want to discuss with your family members.
If you feel like you can’t talk to anyone in your family you can always talk to a teacher, mental health professional or even a friend. But if you are in a crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can call the Boys Town National Hotline at 1-800-448-3000 for someone to talk to 24/7.
Acknowledgement: This fact sheet was originally developed by youth and staff at ReachOut.com, a website that helps teens get through tough times.
