Background 16–18‐year‐old young people experience a relatively high incidence of mental health problems but there is a paucity of research on their experience of mental health services (MHS). Method To gain understanding of young people's experiences of 16–18 MHS, we used qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Ten young people in two 16–18 MHS were interviewed about experiences of using MHS. Results Five superordinate themes emerged from the data analysis, ‘Power Differentials’, ‘Parental Involvement’, ‘Developmentally Attuned Services’, ‘Developing Self‐Expression’, ‘Continuity and Loss of Relationships’. Conclusions Respondents valued developmentally appropriate MHS and emphasised the value of continuity in therapeutic relationships.