Your teenager is spending more time in their room. They’ve stopped seeing a friend they used to spend every weekend with. They’re sleeping more, or hardly sleeping at all. Perhaps they’re more irritable, anxious or withdrawn.
Some of these changes can be part of navigating the teenage years. But you know this young person, and something doesn’t feel quite right.
So, what do you do?
Do you ask if they’re OK? Give them some space? Wait and see? And what happens if you do ask and they tell you they’re struggling?
For many parents and caregivers, noticing that something has changed isn’t necessarily the difficult part. Knowing what to do next can be.
What if I say the wrong thing?
Starting a conversation about mental health can feel daunting.
We might worry that we’re overreacting, invading their privacy or risk pushing them further away. We may wonder whether what we’re seeing is simply part of being a teenager.
And then there’s another possibility: what if we ask if they’re OK and they tell us they’re not?
Knowing how to respond in that moment matters.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to diagnose what is happening or immediately find a solution. Sometimes the first step is simply recognising that something may be wrong, creating an opportunity to talk and knowing how to listen.
Think about physical first aid
Many of us have completed a first aid course at some point.
If someone collapsed in front of you, first aid training wouldn’t make you their doctor. But it could give you the confidence to recognise that something is wrong, provide initial help and know when further assistance is needed.
Youth Mental Health First Aid works on a similar principle.
It gives adults practical skills to recognise signs that a young person may be experiencing a mental health problem, approach them and start a conversation, listen without judgement, provide initial support and help them connect with appropriate professional help or other support.
It’s not about becoming a counsellor; it’s about being better prepared for the moment when a young person may need someone.
And it’s not just parents
Young people have many adults in their lives.
Sometimes the person they choose to talk to won’t be Mum or Dad. It might be a teacher, coach, grandparent, auntie or uncle, employer, youth worker, neighbour or family friend.
That’s why these skills can be valuable for anyone who regularly spends time with young people.
You may never need to use them in a crisis. They may simply help you recognise when a young person is having a difficult time and give you more confidence to ask, “I’ve noticed you don’t seem quite yourself lately. How are things going?”
And then, importantly, to listen to the answer.
Would you know what to do next?
Earlier this month, we introduced Karyn Munro, the trainer and facilitator who will be delivering the Youth Mental Health First Aid course in Wānaka this November.
The course is designed to give adults practical, evidence-based skills for supporting young people who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
Because young people don’t need every adult around them to be a mental health expert.
But having adults in their lives who know how to notice, listen and respond can make a real difference.
Wānaka Youth Mental Health First Aid – November 2026
2-day course: Tuesday 17 & Tuesday 24 November 2026, 9am to 4pm