“Take me Seriously and Accept me as I am” – Understanding the Help-Seeking Process and the Counselling Relationship when Working With Young People Who Use Drugs

Aim: The aim of this part of a large-scale study of psy- chosocial distress in young people was to investigate the characteristics of the help-seeking process and the sig- nificance of the relationship with the professional in the help-seeking process of young people who use drugs. Materials and Methods: We used qualitative methodolo- gies, specifically framework analysis. The sample includ- ed 18 young individuals aged 16 to 25 who were partici- pating in various DrogArt Association programs at the time of the study and had drug use or other psychosocial concerns. The three most common types of discomfort indicated were depression, self-harm, and anxiety. All of the young people engaged reported experiencing sever- al distresses. Results: The findings suggest that the young people initially sought assistance from public institutions such as psychiatry, general practitioners, or school coun- selling programs, but few were given assistance. A third reported seeking help on their own, while a third sought informal support for their difficulties. The relationship with the professional is critical both in the early phases of seeking help and in keeping young people engaged in the support process. Professional attitudes that were mentioned as supportive included trust, understanding, and confidentiality. They value safety, a personalized ap- proach, and acceptance. Professionals in the help process exhibited unhelpful attitudes such as disinterest in assist- ing, imposition, lack of understanding, impatience, and superficiality. Conclusion: When seeking and maintain- ing help for their problems, young people expect profes- sionals to take them seriously and accept them for who they are. A supportive attitude from experts is a key as- pect in young people’s perseverance in the help process, so knowing their concerns and feeling trusted can be critical building blocks for successful programs to assist young people in psychosocial distress.