Hey @nickers, welcome to ReachOut and thanks for sharing what has been going on with your family. It sounds like it has been such a difficult and stressful time for everyone involved. You sound like you have been so proactive and involved in his life, trying to do whatever you can to ease the situation. The question you raise about mental health is a really important one. Anyone can benefit from support from a health professional - you don't need to be mentally unwell. Given what your step son has been through, there is no harm in providing that avenue of support for him. He will be able to receive assistance with whatever is beneficial for him. So with that being said, it is so great that you have booked him in for an appointment with Headspace. How do you think your step son might be feeling about this appointment? At such a young age, it  can take some time to be aware of your own behaviour and how it might impact other people. Unfortunately it can make things so much more challenging for the family    It is so disheartening to hear that you feel so alone. We have a lovely parents based community here which will provide their support and insight soon. You can also read some of the other threads written by parents to read other advice, strategies or tips that may be relevant. At the very least, it can be great to connect with other parents to know that you are not the only one struggling. Dealing with heavy situation for such a long time must have taken a toll on both you and your partner - is there anything you both do as a form of self-care? It can help recharge the batteries, so to speak, so that you can continue to navigate all of these challenges. A service other parents find helpful is Parents Line which provides amazing support, referrals and resources for parents. Let us know if you give it a go  ... View more