Dealing with mental health problems and finding help

Thursday 6 June 2013 at 4:58pm

Mental health problems can happen to anyone, at any time. Credit: David Cheskin/PA Wire

Mental health problems can happen to anyone, at any time.

For most people this will only be for a short period, but some live with mental health issues for longer.

According to some estimates, one person in every four may have some form of mental health problem each year.

For as many as one person in every 50, this problem will be serious enough to affect their ability to work or to form and maintain personal relationships.

How to spot the signs

Mental health problems can take many forms. Here are some of the possible early signs:

Losing interest in activities and tasks that were previously enjoyed.
Poor performance at work.
Mood swings that are very extreme or fast and out of character for you.
Self-harming behaviour, such as cutting yourself.
Changes in eating habits and/or appetite: over-eating, bingeing, not eating.
Loss of, or increase in, sexual desire.
Sleep problems.

Increased anxiety, looking or feeling ‘jumpy’ or agitated, sometimes including panic attacks.
Feeling tired and lacking energy.
Isolating yourself, socialising less; spending too much time in bed.
Wanting to go out a lot more, needing very little sleep, feeling highly energetic, creative and sociable, making new friends rapidly, trusting strangers or spending excessively – this may signal that you are becoming 'high'.

Hearing and seeing things that others don't.
Other differences in perception; for example, mistakenly believing that someone is trying to harm you, is laughing at you, or trying to take over your body.

These feelings can vary in severity and many find they pass quickly. But if they are particularly severe or long-lived, you may want to seek support.

Helping friends or family

The charity MIND advises that many people with mental health problems find it useful to have someone to talk to openly, so being available to listen is often the best way to help.

But sometimes people may find it easier to communicate with someone who's had a similar experience, or to a counsellor or therapist. The most important thing is to be supportive.