First I would determine if there is anything going on in their life which could be contributing to their issues. It's not fair to medicate a person for having legitimate life issues which should be sorted first. If you determine these symptoms are not circumstantial, medication can be discussed with them and their doctors. If they have the kind of problems Blue is describing, getting meds right away would be my suggestion but I realize most cases are a bit more complicated. At age 15, the doctors told my mom I should be hospitalized and medicated. She declined. For a few years, I felt she made the wrong choice and I would have been better off if she had. After my experiences with mental health doctors, I now know she made the right choice. She cried to me recently and said "maybe I should have let them and you'd be better now". I cried back and explained to her that I would surely be worse and thanked her profusely for supporting me in other ways. I had been bullied, attacked and criminally assaulted at school and they wanted to medicate me instead of taking the time to give proper therapy. My son has Bipolar but refuses medications. He's committed to therapy and learning coping skills and says he will consider medication if things don't improve or get worse. My son has an alcohol problem that contributes to him moods and so we need to see how he improves while staying away from it. He's had bipolar type issues since they put him on high dose steroids at age 9. Caused him to get violent and suicidal but improved once he was taken off, only to come back each time he needed them and finally, at age 15, he had a psychotic break from reality and was hospitalized. I'm in the same boat as you but with less kids to manage. It must be so hard having 3 children who have mental health issues. Good luck and I'm so sorry for all you are going through.