Mental Health Awareness: When should you ask for help? How do you get it?

Millions of Americans suffer from mental illness each year.

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Some issues are connected to certain life events, such as suffering from depression at the death of a loved one, and others are the result of a physical problem with the brain’s chemistry.

While it is common to occasionally have mental health concerns, when the problem is ongoing and preventing you from functioning at home or work, you need to seek a professional to help you deal with the issue.

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Here from the Mayo Clinic, are some of the signs that you may need to get help for a mental health issue:

· Feeling sad or down

· Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate

· Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt

· Extreme mood changes of highs and lows

· Withdrawal from friends and activities

· Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping

· Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations

· Inability to cope with daily problems or stress

· Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people

· Problems with alcohol or drug use

· Major changes in eating habits

· Sex drive changes

· Excessive anger, hostility or violence

· Suicidal thinking

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If you have any of those symptoms and they are ongoing, you need to speak to a doctor or mental health professional.

Mental Health America offers steps to take depending on how you are feeling in the moment. They include:

· Take a mental health screen, print the results out, and bring them to a doctor. Or discuss the results with a family member or close friend.

· Try MHA’s interactive “where to get help” feature.

· Look up your local MHA affiliate.

· Find a therapist.

· Find a support group.

· Call 1-800-273-TALK or text MHA to 741741 if you are in crisis.

· Find a hospital.

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