Hello everyone,
I’m a guardian in Belgium supporting a 17-year-old minor who’s been showing signs of severe anxiety and withdrawal lately. They’re hesitant to talk about what’s bothering them, and I’m worried they might need professional help, but the process to get mental health support here is slow and complicated.
Has anyone faced similar situations?
How did you approach getting psychological support quickly?
Any tips on building trust so the minor feels comfortable opening up?
Thanks a lot,
Marlies
Hi Marlies
I completely understand how challenging this can be. In my experience with a 16-year-old minor here in Poland, what really helped was first taking the time to build trust slowly. I didn’t push them to talk right away, instead, I just listened and made sure they knew I was there when they were ready. Sometimes we did small activities together, like drawing or going for walks, which made it easier for them to open up little by little.
I also reached out to specialized NGOs that focus specifically on psychological support for unaccompanied minors. They were much quicker in providing help compared to the public health services, which tend to have long waiting times.
On top of that, working closely with social workers was key. They were able to advocate for priority appointments when the situation was urgent, which really made a difference.
It’s a slow process, but with patience and the right support, things can improve. Hang in there, you’re doing meaningful work!
Best,
Piotr
Guardian, Warsaw
Hey Marlies,
Unfortunately, the situation in Italy is no different from Belgium when it comes to accessing psychological support. Whenever I’ve needed it for the minors under my guardianship, I’ve had to turn to voluntary associations that provide this service. Their waiting lists are quite long, but still shorter than the public health service.
Good luck!
Matteo
Guardian, Florence (IT)
