ASKING FOR HELP �MAKES ME FEEL…

PEER PRESSURE WORRY SCHOOL PROBLEMS FRIEND ISSUES RELATIONSHIP STRAIN STRESS HOMEWORK & ASSIGNMENTS�BULLYING LACK OF CONFIDENCE EXAM STRESS

�CHALLENGING��UNCOMFORTABLE ��SKILLSET

TALKING ABOUT IT WON’T HELP��SIGN OF WEAKNESS��RELY ON OTHERS AND PREFER TO DO THINGS THEMSELVES��NO ONE AROUND TO ASK ��NOT SURE WHO THEY CAN TRUST��TRIED ASKING FOR HELP IN THE PAST�

WHEN TO FIGURE IT OUT…WHEN TO ASK��DON’T WANT TO BE A BURDEN��JUSTIFY THEIR FEELINGS/MAKE EXCUSES��NEVER DONE IT BEFORE� �EMBARRASSED OR ASHAMED

��ACCEPT THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP SOMETIMES, INCLUDING YOU! �

REFRAME ASKING FOR HELP AS A STRENGTH AND NOT A WEAKNESS. FACING OUR FEARS ABOUT ASKING FOR HELP TAKES COURAGE.

RESPOND POSITIVELY WHEN A YOUNG PERSON ASKS YOU FOR HELP AND TRY TO GIVE THEM YOUR FULL ATTENTION. OR ORGANIZE A TIME WHEN YOU CAN TALK UNINTERRUPTED.

AVOID VIEWING HELP SEEKING AS A SIGN OF FAILURE. INSTEAD TRY VIEWING IT AS A NORMAL PART OF LIFE AND AS AN IMPORTANT LIFE SKILL. IT’S OK TO MAKE MISTAKES!

TRY NOT TO MINIMIZE THEIR FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, OR SITUATION. SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S HARD TO ASK FOR HELP AND THAT YOU CARE.

ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP WHEN IT’S NEEDED. INSTEAD OF HOPING THAT IT WILL GO AWAY ON ITS OWN, ASK FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP WHEN YOU FEEL OUT OF YOUR DEPTH.

SHARE A STORY WITH THE YOUNG PERSON IN YOUR LIFE ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU NEEDED HELP. BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT TIMES WHEN YOU NEEDED EXTRA SUPPORT AND HOW YOU WENT ABOUT ASKING FOR IT.