Alex's Answer
Are teenagers faking mental disorders
Your Question
Is REALLY a huge problem that teenagers are faking mental disorders? I feel like I hear this is opinion all the time. I even got denied a referral for an autism assessment because apparently, I’m just another teenage girl whose faking a mental disorder
Answer
Welcome to Ask Alex,
We understand that there are many questions and things happen that might not be easy to talk about or explain, and we thank you for bringing your question to us. We hope that some information or signpost we give will help you get the answers and support you are entitled to.
You have mentioned in your question that you have been denied a referral for an autism assessment, we are sorry to hear that this is something that is hard for you as you feel you need supports but you feel you are being labelled as “just another teenage girl who is faking a mental disorder”.
Firstly, it is important to know that we hear you and we don’t think anyone should be labelled because of the actions or assumptions of others. Everyone should be entitled to a fair medical and mental health treatments no matter what. It is not fair to label anyone else as we don’t know what is going on for them in their life but there are assessments and evaluations in place to ensure that people are receiving the appropriate service that will support them.
We think that you should be able to avail of services that will help you grow and develop with supports that can assist you in doing so. You have mentioned that your Autism referral was denied. Have you spoken with your parents/carers in relation to this? You have the right to be involved and aware of what the next steps will be for you going forward, having a trusted adult to go through this with you would be very helpful. You may also want to discuss it with your local GP or the professional that would have put the referral in on your behalf.
Don’t jump to “I’m just another teenage girl who’s faking a mental disorder”; fight that judgement and see where else you can bring it. You have a voice, and it is important that you are heard. If your GP or psychologist or whoever referred you on for the Autistic assessment states that this is not the right service for you then find the one that is. If you are struggling in a particular way then detail that to them. www.asiam.ie is a website that might be helpful to link with in relation to questions you may have around Autism.
If you feel you cannot speak with a trusted adult in your life right now about this topic, you can always reach out to our Childline team on by clicking on the Live Chat button on this website or giving us a call on 1800 66 66 66. These are free, confidential services that will listen to what you have to say and help you explore what your next steps may be, what you wish to do next. Both are open 24/7, so there is always somebody here for you when you need it most.
We hope some of the above information has been of use to you and we want to thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today.
Take care of yourself, and reach out for support real soon.
Alex