Supporting a young person through a mental health crisis

When we first met Alex, he was 15 and going through an incredibly tough time. He lives at home with his parents and older sister, and had recently been discharged from Gloucester Royal Hospital following a suicide attempt. At that point, Alex was enrolled in mainstream education but wasn’t attending, and he told us he felt really isolated and cut off from friends and family.

After leaving hospital, Alex was offered 12 one-to-one support sessions over 15 weeks. What started as six weeks of support was extended when some additional concerns around eating and self-image came up. This extra time gave us space to slow things down and really focus on what Alex needed.

What Alex Wanted to Work On

Early on, we spent time talking about what Alex felt was going on for him and what he wanted support with. Together, we identified a few key areas:

• Feeling less isolated and more connected

• Understanding what was stopping him from going back to school

• Finding safer ways to cope with self-harm urges and suicidal thoughts

• Reducing substance use

• Looking at eating habits and body image when he felt ready

How We Supported Alex

Our work with Alex was all about meeting him where he was and taking things one step at a time.

One of the first practical things we did together was make a GP appointment. Alex felt overwhelmed about making the call on his own, so we did it together. That appointment turned out to be really important, it led to blood tests, a referral to the local eating disorder service, and Alex being prescribed antidepressants to help with his low mood.

We also talked a lot about sleep and routine. Together, we worked through a healthy sleep guide and chatted about what already helped Alex wind down. He shared that he’d been using “brown noise” before bed to relax, which we encouraged as part of building better sleep habits.

Relationships came up too. Through open conversations, Alex began to realise that one relationship in his life wasn’t actually making him feel good. He made the decision himself to step away from it, showing a growing understanding of boundaries and what healthy relationships should feel like.

To help manage self-harm urges, we explored different coping strategies. One simple but effective idea was creating a discreet crisis note on Alex’s phone. This gave him quick access to grounding techniques and reminders when things felt overwhelming.

We also looked at substance use, talking through triggers and how it was affecting Alex’s mental health. This helped him start making more informed choices and work towards reducing his use.

To help tackle social isolation, Alex was encouraged to come along to our drop-in sessions. These sessions gave him a relaxed, supportive space to be around others, helping him slowly rebuild confidence and feel less alone.

What Changed

Over time, Alex started to notice real changes in himself. His motivation improved, he became more active, and he began reconnecting with things he used to enjoy.

“At the start of support I wasn’t getting out of bed. Now I manage to get out of bed most days. I’m going to the gym four times a week. I’ve got more positive things going for me , I’ve started playing Mine craft again. I’d stopped doing everything I enjoyed.’

Alex also spoke about how important it was just having someone to talk to without feeling judged:

“It was useful to have a space with an unbiased opinion. I’ve never had that before. You gave me key information and helped me find additional support.”

Why This Matters

Alex’s story is a reminder that youth work doesn’t have to be about big, dramatic changes. Sometimes it’s about sitting alongside a young person, helping them make a phone call, talk things through, and slowly rebuild trust in themselves and others. Those small steps can make a huge difference.