Action 3: Give support and information cont.
young people – actively reducing stigma and providing symptom language to use when talking to a doctor. Whilst intended to be empowering, social media posts can spread misinformation. Some young people say that a self-diagnosis can be worn as a social credential and deflect “criticism from other people based on aspects of your personality (see www.psychologytoday. com/gb/basics/personality )”, or explain why a young person might have “certain undesirable qualities like shyness (see www. psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/shyness ) (103).” Other research suggests that by maintaining an identity through self-diagnosis young people may inadvertently be attempting to mask feelings of anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem (104). Youth MHFAiders should avoid using search engines as they may find unreliable results. Trusted and updated information can be found on the MHFAider Support App, in the MHFA England manual, Hub of Hope signposting database, and through other organisations such as Young Minds , the Charlie Waller Trust , and Anna Freud . These last three are mental health charities for children, young people, and their families. It is important that you provide resources that are accurate and appropriate to the young person’s situation and age. Try not to assume that the young person knows nothing about their signs and symptoms, as they or someone else close to them may have previously experienced poor mental health. Pre-adolescents may feel overwhelmed by large amounts of complicated information. Try to find child-friendly information that uses simple language or pictures to illustrate facts when working with a pre-adolescent.
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