When a young person is having a difficult time which is impacting on their mental health, they will often first reach out to a “trusted adult” in their life.
These are a broad circle of adults playing an active, positive, and crucial role within communities. This could be someone in their school, in their community or in their wider family.
The aim of this guide is to provide information and support to anyone working in settings which children and young people access who a young person may choose to be their “trusted adult.”
An important finding from the academic and policy literature, is that overall, a trusted adult leads to positive mental health outcomes. Mcpherson et al. (2014) found that children and adolescents reported fewer mental health challenges when they had a support network of high quality relationships with peers and trusted adults outside of their immediate family. The evidence strongly suggested that when young people are struggling with their mental health, the emotional support that they get from a trusted adult is invaluable.
The guide has been created in partnership with children and young people, the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner.
Download the guide here.
