If you didnt know already it’s Children’s Mental Health Week and lately I have seen a lot of judgement around parenting choices when it comes to children’s mental health, especially the decision to medicate. What often gets missed is the reality behind those incredibly hard choices that come with responsibility and even guilt.

Mental health support is not always freely available when it’s needed most. Waiting lists are way too long. Crisis support is stretched. Families often have to wait, sometimes years! Parents can be told that their child is not unwell enough yet even while that child is struggling every single day.

For many families, especially those raising autistic children, the risks are higher. Autistic children are far more likely to experience anxiety, depression, emotional distress and difficulties with emotional regulation. They are also at a significantly increased risk of self harm which we know all to well.

No parent chooses medication lightly. It took us years before we would consider it. Did I judge other parents years ago when Reilly wasn’t as severe? Probably. Will I ever do it again, never. I’m almost 20 years in on anti-D’s and prob wouldn’t be here without them.

That decision to medicate usually comes after months or years of watching your child struggle, after sleepless nights, constant fear, self harm, school battles and so on. It comes when you are trying to keep your child safe in a world not set up for them.

Unless you live in that environment. Unless you are the one seeing the scars, managing the meltdowns and fearing what tomorrow might bring. You do not get to judge. Every family’s situation is different. Every child’s needs are different. Medication may not be right for everyone but for families like ours it is a vital part of survival and stability.

This Children’s Mental Health Week let’s replace judgement with understanding and acknowledge that parents making these decisions are doing so out of love, protection and desperation for their child to feel okay.