Getting the support of family and friends

Taking a medicine can be difficult if you are doing it all on your own. Having the support of family members or friends could help you to get the best from your medicine.

Their help can be very practical, like:

• Going with you to appointments
  • Helping you to ask the right questions
  • Remembering what the doctor said
• Helping you to remember to order your prescription from the doctor
• Getting your prescription from the pharmacy (chemist)
• Helping you to remember to take it – gentle reminders!

Because they know you well, they can help you to see when your symptoms are getting better, and they can spot side-effects. They can keep you safe when you might not be able to see the change yourself. For example, you could take them out while you are driving to check that you are doing that normally. This is all really important through the first days and weeks when you are getting used to a medicine. You can celebrate milestones together, like “4 weeks and doing really well”.

Research shows that young people with conditions like diabetes and asthma do much better with their medication when they are helped by their parents or carers. Of course, as you get older you take on more of the responsibility yourself, but that help - as you grow up - can be priceless.

Young people might feel more awkward talking about mental health conditions than about diabetes and asthma. You may not feel like you want to let people know you have to take medicines, especially if they keep you well and you do not show any symptoms.

But it could help you to get the best from your medicine if you choose some people you trust to support you.