When a teenager tells you about their mental health issues you have to listen to the expert – themselves

‘Sometimes working out the best way forward for a young person and their mental health takes a lot of time and trust.’ Photograph: Artur Tavares/Getty Images/EyeEm

I am an “expert”. At least in the sense that as a specialist medical doctor in mental health I am asked to give expert advice, included in expert advisory groups, and if I give evidence in court, it’s taken as expert evidence.

But when I see young people in my day-to-day work to help them with their mental health it becomes evident to me who the real “experts” are.