In their own words: What young women want from service providers

CrossCurrents

VALIDITY participants identified what clinicians should and should not do when working with young women experiencing depression.

DO:

• Build a relationship with us before talking about depression.
• Ask us if we have been affected by such issues as:
  • discomfort with our body
  • parental pressure
  • racial and cultural experiences
  • peer pressure
  • sexual relationships
  • sexual orientation issues
  • economic issues
  • disabilities
  • alcohol or other drug use
• Educate us about depression.
• Give us information about alternatives to medication.
• Check things out with us to make sure you understand what we mean!

DON'T:

• Tell us you know what we're going through unless you've been there!
• Do for us: guide us instead.
• Forget to look up from your papers and checklists.
• Just hand us a number to call.
• Ask "yes/no" questions.
• Assume we want family involved.
• Talk to us like children.
• Judge us by the way we dress.
• Reject us because we are expressing anger.

 

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