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Talking to the GP about mental health
Here, people talk about the following topics: what is mental health? when to see the GP about mental health young people's experiences of symptoms talking...
Here, people talk about:
where can young people find sexual health services and advice?
young people’s rights and confidentiality
young people’s experiences
Where can young people find sexual health services and advice?
Anyone with a concern about sexual health can see their GP, whether it’s about contraception, periods, STIs, pregnancy, cervical screening, or abortion. People can also speak to their doctor if they want to talk to someone about sex and sexuality. Sexual health services and advice are available from:
GPs
pharmacies
contraception clinics (family planning clinics)
sexual health clinics
STI testing clinics
genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
young people’s services (e.g. charities) Young people’s rights and confidentiality
When it comes to sexual health services, whether at a clinic or GP surgery, young people have the same rights as anyone else regardless of their age, sexuality, ethnic origin or gender.
Appointments with the GP are confidential regardless of a person’s age. Doctors and nurses have very strict rules on confidentiality so that everything a patient tells them, their personal details and medical records are kept completely private. However, a GP might encourage a patient to tell others (like a parent) about the problem, or they can speak to them on the patient’s behalf if they’d prefer. This is because sometimes it’s important for those looking after a person to know what’s going on as they might be able to help or support them. The doctor might encourage a young person to tell their parent or guardian, but should respect a patient’s wishes if they don’t want to. If a patient is under 16 and doesn’t want to involve their parents, the doctor can treat them without telling their parents as long as the young person fully understands the choices they’re making. In exceptional cases, though, like when a health professional thinks a young person might be in serious danger, they may need to pass information to police or social services. Even then they must talk to the person first before they tell anyone else, unless that would put someone at risk of harm.
Young people’s experiences
People often see the GP to get contraception. Emma usually went to get the contraceptive pill, while Aphra said she bought condoms when she was at university as she wasn’t in a serious relationship. Later, when she was, she went to the doctor and got the pill. She felt that sexual and mental health were young people’s biggest concerns when it came to their health:
Practice (surgery) nurses also help with contraception and sexual health services. Aphra and Sarah recalled seeing the nurse about the pill and Fran mentioned seeing the nurse for cervical screening (smear) tests and an STI test (test for sexually transmitted infections).
Here, people talk about the following topics: what is mental health? when to see the GP about mental health young people's experiences of symptoms talking...
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