The idea of taking antidepressants or any other medication to support mental health can sound intimidating and almost scary at first. You and your child might have a ton of questions about which is the most effective for your child, how they might affect them, the potential side effects, or even just how to pronounce the names.
YoungMinds, an organization based in the UK to educate and support young people about mental health, has a specific section dedicated to helping youths understand the different kinds of medications that can be offered to treat mental illness. If your child has recently been prescribed to use medication, or you are thinking that they may need to start one, we hope this website can give them additional information and advice about the process. This includes how to get started, how to make sure to stick with it, and what to do if you feel like you’re worried about your child becoming addicted to the medication. There’s also a 50+ term glossary to explain mental health and scientific terms that are associated with treatment.
There are currently 30 types of medication listed on the website. They cover medications treating issues such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, just to name a few. Each medication includes the type it is (such as an antipsychotic or an SSRI), other names that it’s referred to, what it can be used for, and the form and dosage that it’s often prescribed as. Each entry also includes a young person’s story about their experience with taking it!
As listed on the website, please speak with your doctor if you are seriously considering starting or changing your medication for your child if you feel like you found one that might help them on this website. YoungMinds is not a medical organization and is not giving professional medical advice.
Does your take medication to treat your mental health? If so, how did they learn about it? What do you wish you knew about taking medication for mental illnesses?