The stigma around mental health keeps many people from sharing how they are really doing with someone that can help. It’s time to be heard.
Download some prompts that may be helpful in writing your story.
Single Mom, Age 35
Overwhelmed; my son’s struggles in school were adding daily to my own anxiety. He’s so smart, but it hadn’t been demonstrated in his grades. How could I help him succeed? Judged; his impulsive behaviors and uncontrollable energy seemed to be alienating friends and family and I was feeling alone. I couldn’t shake the belief that they blamed his behaviors on poor parenting. Desperate; I know he didn’t want to feel this way, but what do I do? Where do I begin?
“ADHD,” said the Psychiatrist, as he began to share the results of the testing. I hadn’t even realized just how tense my body had been, but as he spoke, I felt the tension begin to release. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together, and it all made perfect sense. Receiving a diagnosis to begin understanding what has been contributing to his underperformance at school was the stepping stone we needed. I began to feel relief.
“Behavioral intervention,” the psychiatrist explained, as he described the first treatment strategy. I let out the breath I had been holding in. I wasn’t a “bad mom.” I simply didn’t have the tools that I needed that were specific to my son and our family. Seeking a diagnosis was the right choice, for all of us, and I began to feel validated.
“Medication,” he psychiatrist continued, as he explained the benefits of this additional treatment option. My eyes welled with tears. He doesn’t have to feel this way. Medication could allow him to finally show the world the kind, passionate, and incredible boy that I know is longing to be seen. I began to feel hope.
Our journey to this point has been strenuous, but here we were, with a new beginning. I am not naïve enough to think that we won’t still encounter obstacles, but I know that this new journey will be different – because this new journey, it’s starting with hope.
For Youth
Because of these common myths, youth may not seek help from their caregiver:
Myth
My parents will be
disappointed in me
Fact
My parents love me and want
me to be safe
Fact
Real friends care about who I am;
I am not just a diagnosis
Myth
A diagnosis will ruin my future
Fact
A diagnosis can help direct me toward
the best resources for me
Myth
My parents already have enough
to worry about
Fact
My parents want to know what is going on
with me and want to help
For FAMILIES
Start the Conversation
Check out the links below to find ideas, resources, and ways to start the conversation with your youth.





Look for a good
time and place to chat
Understand their
concernsAcknowledge their feelings and
listenFor Everyone
Be Helpful, Not Hurtful

How can I help?
How are you feeling?
I’m here for you if you need me.
I care about you.

You need to toughen up.
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
Can’t you just snap out of it?
It could be so much worse.
Get Involved
YouthJoin the Youth Advisory Council
FamiliesJoin the Parent Consultant Group
Upcoming Events
Check back for upcoming events.

Mission: The Ottawa County Collaborative to Strengthen Youth and Families exists to identify and bridge gaps in services, equip service providers, create community dialogue, and ensure every child in Ottawa County has access to the supports and services they need.
StigmaFreeOttawa@miOttawa.org
Contact us for help with resources or questions.
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.The stigma around mental health keeps many people from sharing how they are really doing with someone that can help. It’s time to be heard.
Download some prompts that may be helpful in writing your story.
Single Mom, Age 35
Overwhelmed; my son’s struggles in school were adding daily to my own anxiety. He’s so smart, but it hadn’t been demonstrated in his grades. How could I help him succeed? Judged; his impulsive behaviors and uncontrollable energy seemed to be alienating friends and family and I was feeling alone. I couldn’t shake the belief that they blamed his behaviors on poor parenting. Desperate; I know he didn’t want to feel this way, but what do I do? Where do I begin?
“ADHD,” said the Psychiatrist, as he began to share the results of the testing. I hadn’t even realized just how tense my body had been, but as he spoke, I felt the tension begin to release. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together, and it all made perfect sense. Receiving a diagnosis to begin understanding what has been contributing to his underperformance at school was the stepping stone we needed. I began to feel relief.
“Behavioral intervention,” the psychiatrist explained, as he described the first treatment strategy. I let out the breath I had been holding in. I wasn’t a “bad mom.” I simply didn’t have the tools that I needed that were specific to my son and our family. Seeking a diagnosis was the right choice, for all of us, and I began to feel validated.
“Medication,” he psychiatrist continued, as he explained the benefits of this additional treatment option. My eyes welled with tears. He doesn’t have to feel this way. Medication could allow him to finally show the world the kind, passionate, and incredible boy that I know is longing to be seen. I began to feel hope.
Our journey to this point has been strenuous, but here we were, with a new beginning. I am not naïve enough to think that we won’t still encounter obstacles, but I know that this new journey will be different – because this new journey, it’s starting with hope.
For Youth
Because of these common myths, youth may not seek help from their caregiver:
Myth
My parents will be
disappointed in me
Fact
My parents love me and want
me to be safe
Fact
Real friends care about who I am;
I am not just a diagnosis
Myth
A diagnosis will ruin my future
Fact
A diagnosis can help direct me toward
the best resources for me
Myth
My parents already have enough
to worry about
Fact
My parents want to know what is going on
with me and want to help
For FAMILIES
Start the Conversation
Check out the links below to find ideas, resources, and ways to start the conversation with your youth.





Look for a good
time and place to chat
Understand their
concernsAcknowledge their feelings and
listenFor Everyone
Be Helpful, Not Hurtful

How can I help?
How are you feeling?
I’m here for you if you need me.
I care about you.

You need to toughen up.
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
Can’t you just snap out of it?
It could be so much worse.
Get Involved
YouthJoin the Youth Advisory Council
FamiliesJoin the Parent Consultant Group
Upcoming Events
Check back for upcoming events.

Mission: The Ottawa County Collaborative to Strengthen Youth and Families exists to identify and bridge gaps in services, equip service providers, create community dialogue, and ensure every child in Ottawa County has access to the supports and services they need.
StigmaFreeOttawa@miOttawa.org
Contact us for help with resources or questions.
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.The stigma around mental health keeps many people from sharing how they are really doing with someone that can help. It’s time to be heard.
Download some prompts that may be helpful in writing your story.
Youth Prompts >Parent & Family Prompts >Single Mom, Age 35
Overwhelmed; my son’s struggles in school were adding daily to my own anxiety. He’s so smart, but it hadn’t been demonstrated in his grades. How could I help him succeed? Judged; his impulsive behaviors and uncontrollable energy seemed to be alienating friends and family and I was feeling alone. I couldn’t shake the belief that they blamed his behaviors on poor parenting. Desperate; I know he didn’t want to feel this way, but what do I do? Where do I begin?
“ADHD,” said the Psychiatrist, as he began to share the results of the testing. I hadn’t even realized just how tense my body had been, but as he spoke, I felt the tension begin to release. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together, and it all made perfect sense. Receiving a diagnosis to begin understanding what has been contributing to his underperformance at school was the stepping stone we needed. I began to feel relief.
“Behavioral intervention,” the psychiatrist explained, as he described the first treatment strategy. I let out the breath I had been holding in. I wasn’t a “bad mom.” I simply didn’t have the tools that I needed that were specific to my son and our family. Seeking a diagnosis was the right choice, for all of us, and I began to feel validated.
“Medication,” he psychiatrist continued, as he explained the benefits of this additional treatment option. My eyes welled with tears. He doesn’t have to feel this way. Medication could allow him to finally show the world the kind, passionate, and incredible boy that I know is longing to be seen. I began to feel hope.
Our journey to this point has been strenuous, but here we were, with a new beginning. I am not naïve enough to think that we won’t still encounter obstacles, but I know that this new journey will be different – because this new journey, it’s starting with hope.
For Youth
Because of these common myths, youth may not seek help from their caregiver:
Myth
My parents will be
disappointed in me
Fact
My parents love me and want
me to be safe
Fact
Real friends care about who I am;
I am not just a diagnosis
Myth
A diagnosis will ruin my future
Fact
A diagnosis can help direct me toward
the best resources for me
Myth
My parents already have enough
to worry about
Fact
My parents want to know what is going on
with me and want to help
For FAMILIES
Start the Conversation
Check out the links below to find ideas, resources, and ways to start the conversation with your youth.
For Everyone
Be Helpful, Not Hurtful

How can I help?
How are you feeling?
I’m here for you if you need me.
I care about you.

You need to toughen up.
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
Can’t you just snap out of it?
It could be so much worse.
Get Involved
YouthJoin the Youth Advisory Council
FamiliesJoin the Parent Consultant Group
Upcoming Events
Check back for upcoming events.

Mission: The Ottawa County Collaborative to Strengthen Youth and Families exists to identify and bridge gaps in services, equip service providers, create community dialogue, and ensure every child in Ottawa County has access to the supports and services they need.
StigmaFreeOttawa@miOttawa.org
Contact us for help with resources or questions.
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.The stigma around mental health keeps many people from sharing how they are really doing with someone that can help. It’s time to be heard.
Download some prompts that may be helpful in writing your story.
Youth Prompts >Parent & Family Prompts >Single Mom, Age 35
Overwhelmed; my son’s struggles in school were adding daily to my own anxiety. He’s so smart, but it hadn’t been demonstrated in his grades. How could I help him succeed? Judged; his impulsive behaviors and uncontrollable energy seemed to be alienating friends and family and I was feeling alone. I couldn’t shake the belief that they blamed his behaviors on poor parenting. Desperate; I know he didn’t want to feel this way, but what do I do? Where do I begin?
“ADHD,” said the Psychiatrist, as he began to share the results of the testing. I hadn’t even realized just how tense my body had been, but as he spoke, I felt the tension begin to release. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together, and it all made perfect sense. Receiving a diagnosis to begin understanding what has been contributing to his underperformance at school was the stepping stone we needed. I began to feel relief.
“Behavioral intervention,” the psychiatrist explained, as he described the first treatment strategy. I let out the breath I had been holding in. I wasn’t a “bad mom.” I simply didn’t have the tools that I needed that were specific to my son and our family. Seeking a diagnosis was the right choice, for all of us, and I began to feel validated.
“Medication,” he psychiatrist continued, as he explained the benefits of this additional treatment option. My eyes welled with tears. He doesn’t have to feel this way. Medication could allow him to finally show the world the kind, passionate, and incredible boy that I know is longing to be seen. I began to feel hope.
Our journey to this point has been strenuous, but here we were, with a new beginning. I am not naïve enough to think that we won’t still encounter obstacles, but I know that this new journey will be different – because this new journey, it’s starting with hope.
For Youth
Because of these common myths, youth may not seek help from their caregiver:
Myth
My parents will be
disappointed in me
Fact
My parents love me and want
me to be safe
Fact
Real friends care about who I am;
I am not just a diagnosis
Myth
A diagnosis will ruin my future
Fact
A diagnosis can help direct me toward
the best resources for me
Myth
My parents already have enough
to worry about
Fact
My parents want to know what is going on
with me and want to help
For FAMILIES
Start the Conversation
Check out the links below to find ideas, resources, and ways to start the conversation with your youth.
Acknowledge their feelings and
listen

For Everyone
Be Helpful, Not Hurtful

How can I help?
How are you feeling?
I’m here for you if you need me.
I care about you.

You need to toughen up.
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
Can’t you just snap out of it?
It could be so much worse.
Get Involved
YouthJoin the Youth Advisory Council
FamiliesJoin the Parent Consultant Group
Upcoming Events
Check back for upcoming events.

Mission: The Ottawa County Collaborative to Strengthen Youth and Families exists to identify and bridge gaps in services, equip service providers, create community dialogue, and ensure every child in Ottawa County has access to the supports and services they need.
StigmaFreeOttawa@miOttawa.org
Contact us for help with resources or questions.
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.