Since the turn of the century, mental health, its stigmas and the awareness around it have changed dramatically. Thanks to voices in the world of mental health like Radha Singh, the World has changed its perception of mental health and diseases which were once considered irrelevant, are now being taken very seriously and there has never been more help and support out there than right now.
Despite us learning more about mental health, many of us are still unclear as to what kind of problems these issues can cause. If you suspect that a friend or a family member may be suffering from a mental health issue then here are some of the things that you should be looking out for.
Withdrawal
One of the key signs to look out for when you suspect someone to have any kind of mental health disorder is social withdrawal. Withdrawal can often be a direct symptom of mental health problems but it can also be as a result of the symptoms with sufferers not feeling as though they can go out in case they have problems in front of other people.
Mood Swings
Again, both as a result of symptoms or symptomatically, sufferers of mental health issues can be prone to mood swings, often from one extreme to the other. It isn’t normal behavior to be elated one minute and despairing the next and this is quite an easy symptom to spot.
Delusions
In more advanced and extreme cases of mental health, patients can suffer from wild delusions or even hallucinations. Once a patient starts suffering from these kind of symptoms it is crucial that they receive care as soon as possible to avoid becoming a danger to themselves or those around them.
Personality Change
A shift in personality generally happens as a result of other symptoms, your once outgoing and lively friend becoming withdrawn and suffering from mood swings is bound to alter their personality and this can be another tell-tale sign that they are suffering from some kind of mental illness. If you know somebody well then you will be able to spot their change and at this point you should take some advice from a professional or speak directly with your friend and family member.
What to do if You See Symptoms
The trickiest part of all of this is what to actually do when you suspect that someone you know has a mental health disorder. The first thing to remember is that you are not a licensed professional and your help can only go so far, the best course of action is to speak first with professionals before speaking to your friend or family member. a trained professional will be able to advise you on how to encourage the patient to come forward and seek help. This is a very delicate situation which you need to handle with care so ensure that you have sought out lots of advice before taking it on.
