The importance of good mental health cannot be emphasized enough by healthcare experts. In fact, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports mental health and physical health are equally important because mental health challenges can contribute to physical health issues. Depression can increase the risk for health issues like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Conversely, chronic physical health conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.
How to get help for someone with mental illness?
Anyone can experience mental health problems. According to the CDC, more than 25% of adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. Friends and family can make a big difference in a person’s recovery process.
Treatment and mental health support may include counseling, psychotherapy, medication therapy and rehabilitation. The CDC reports common mental health services include crisis services, support and therapy, substance use support and hospitalization.
It’s important to recognize the early signs of mental health problems, encourage early treatment and offer understanding and compassion. If a friend or family member is showing signs of experiencing a mental health problem, here are some ways to support them:
- Offer to find help for the person if they are not getting the care they need and want.
- Express concern and support.
- Remind the person that help is available and that mental health problems can be treated.
- Ask questions, listening to ideas and be responsive when the topic of mental health problems come up.
- Reassure the person that you care about them.
- Offer to help with everyday tasks.
- Include the person in your plans and continue to invite them without being overbearing, even if they resist your invitations.
- Educate others so they understand the facts about mental health issues.
- Treat people with mental health problems with respect, compassion and empathy.
How to help someone with mental illness who doesn’t want help?
Helping a person who doesn’t seem to want mental health assistance can range from very simple approaches, like emotional and practical support, to more critical approaches, like seeking emergency services when a person has or may hurt themselves or others.
Emotional support:
Emotional support begins with listening and validating a person. Ask questions, help them feel heard and ask how they are doing. People often have trouble seeking help if they don’t feel heard or understood.
Practical support:
Resist the urge to give advice. The time for advice is when someone asks for it. Explore options together. Start small by avoiding talking about the mental illness itself until the person becomes more comfortable with it. Don’t forget to monitor your own mental health as you assist another person in their mental health journey.
Critical support:
People with mental health disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often refuse mental health treatment, usually because they aren’t aware of their illness or are in denial of it. This condition is formally known as anosognosia. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that, in most cases, an individual over the age of 18 cannot be forced to seek mental health treatment except in emergency situations, such as if they are displaying violent or suicidal behaviors. Laws vary from state to state, but many state laws allow for an individual to be committed to a mental health center for inpatient treatment for up to 72 hours. Generally, if a person with a mental health disorder is in danger of harming themselves or others, they can be placed in a facility.
When to walk away from someone with mental illness?
Watching a family member or someone close to you struggle with mental illness can be heartbreaking. It can also take a toll on your own mental well-being. It’s important to understand and recognize that sometimes you have to put your own mental health ahead of someone else’s.
If the relationship with an adult becomes too emotionally draining for you, affects your own mental health negatively or if a pattern of toxic behavior doesn’t improve, it may be time to consider severing the relationship.
What do you do when a family member is mentally unstable?
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says it can be helpful to make a comparison between mental and physical illness. For example, a minor illness means someone can go about their daily lives without much restriction, but a more serious illness prevents people from doing normal activities and may require medication or even hospitalization to get well. Much the same, feelings of sadness, anxiety, worry, irritability, or sleep problems are common for most people. However, when those feelings become intense, last for a long period of time or begin to interfere with work or relationships, it may be a signal of a more serious mental health problem.
Just as someone would need to seek professional help or medication for serious physical conditions, someone with a mental health problem may need mental health support like medications or therapy to get well.
What are some of the warning signs of mental illness?
The American Psychiatric Association says major mental illnesses rarely appear “out of the blue.” Often, friends or family members will recognize changes in a person’s thinking, feelings or behaviors well before an illness becomes serious.
That’s why learning about early warning signs and taking action can help successful treatment. Studies show that early intervention can help reduce the severity of mental illnesses. It also may be possible to delay or even prevent a major mental illness from developing at all.
The American Psychiatric Association says it may be helpful to contact a mental health professional if you see several of the following signs:
- Changes in sleep, appearance or appetite: Dramatic sleep and appetite changes or decline in personal care.
- Mood changes: Rapid or dramatic shifts in emotions or depressed feelings and greater irritability.
- Withdrawal: Recent social withdrawal and loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed.
- Drop in functioning: An unusual drop in functioning at school, work or social activities, such as quitting sports, failing in school or difficulty performing familiar tasks.
- Problems thinking: Problems with concentration, memory or logical thought and speech that are hard to explain.
- Increased sensitivity: Heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch; avoidance of over-stimulating situations.
- Apathy: Loss of initiative or desire to participate in any activity.
- Feeling disconnected: A vague feeling of being disconnected from oneself or one’s surroundings; a sense of unreality.
- Illogical thinking: Unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand meanings or influence events; illogical or “magical” thinking typical of childhood in an adult.
- Nervousness: Fear or suspiciousness of others or a strong nervous feeling.
- Unusual behavior: Odd, uncharacteristic or peculiar behavior.
- Changes in school or work: Increased absenteeism, worsening performance or difficulties in relationships with peers and co-workers.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, having one or two of the above symptoms doesn’t necessarily predicate a serious mental illness but may indicate a need for evaluation. If a person is experiencing several of the above symptoms, that person should be seen by a mental health professional. Those with suicidal thoughts or intentions or thoughts of harming others need immediate attention.
What are 5 things to do instead of calling police during a mental health crisis?
A mental health condition can mean that a person feels like they are in a crisis situation, and that can sometimes create a dangerous situation. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers five ways to keep a mental health situation from becoming an emergency.
- Evaluate the situation: Is the situation urgent? If someone has developed a plan to kill themselves, that is an immediate mental health crisis. That person should immediately be taken to a hospital emergency room. If they resist, 911 should be called. If you’re not sure if the situation is urgent, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org.
- Avoid a crisis: If you live with a mental health condition, it is important to plan ahead. Consult with your treatment team about where to go for intensive treatment. Most importantly, a person living with a mental health condition needs to know how to reach out to mental health professionals in the case of an emergency.
- Consult a doctor: Anyone feeling their brain health worsening should immediately contact their mental health professional to explain the situation. If the person does not have a mental health professional, they should make an urgent appointment with one to begin support and treatment quickly.
- Reach out to others: Friends, family and support groups can offer support in difficult times. Contact NAMI at 1-800-950-6264 or info@nami.org to receive support and information about resources in your community. A “warmline” can also offer local resources for a person experiencing a brain health issue. Dial 211 for information on local services.
- Take care of yourself: There are many ways to improve mental health. Meditation, quiet reflection, talking about your issues with a friend and prescribed medications can all help improve mental health. Most importantly, having a long-term treatment plan and knowing that many forms of help are available to you can be key to good brain health.
How to improve mental health crisis response?
First responders are often called to intervene in mental health crises. While first responders understand the importance of good mental health and are generally prepared to care for those injured or distressed physically, training for critical intervention can be lacking. FHE Health reports crisis intervention training is crucial for first responders to properly handle a mental crisis situation. In the U.S., nearly 60% of adults experiencing a mental health condition do not receive any help. Nearly 40 million Americans experience some type of anxiety and more than 16 million suffer from depression, according to NAMI.
Frequently, a 911 call to an emergency situation or crime scene involves an individual who is living with some form of mental illness. For example, 24% of those incarcerated have a recent history of mental illness. First responders who receive mental health crisis training are more capable of recognizing when a mental health condition or crisis may be present. This knowledge is critical to how first responders respond to the situation and what services they provide to the person. Research shows that police officers who receive crisis intervention training improve mental health crisis outcomes.
Those officers are able to better gauge use of force in emergency situations and are more likely to negotiate with the individual and work toward connecting them to the services they need. Overall, research shows crisis response teams that undergo crisis intervention training are less likely to arrest those suffering from a mental health crisis than those that do not receive specialized crisis intervention training.
What are some resources available to individuals with mental illness?
Treatment for people with diagnosable mental conditions is individualized and may include counseling, psychotherapy, medication therapy and rehabilitation. The CDC reports research in genetics and neuroscience is providing new insights and approaches for more effective interventions. Common mental health services include crisis services, support and therapy, substance use support and hospitalization.
Who prescribes medication for mental health?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors who are able to diagnose mental health conditions, provide therapy and prescribe and monitor medications. Some psychiatrists with additional training specialize in child and adolescent mental health, substance use disorders or geriatric care.
A list of mental health resources:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers many free and confidential resources to help you or a loved one connect with skilled, trained mental health professionals to provide compassionate care.
Helplines:
Immediate support: Call or text 988 if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or other brain health crisis.
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
Abuse/Assault/Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800p-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522.
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat.
LGBTQ+
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (para español presiona el 2).
The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386.
Older Adults
The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 – TTY Instructions.
Alzheimer’s Association Helpline: 1-800-272-3900 (para español presiona el 2).
Veterans/Active-Duty Military
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or Crisis Chat or text: 838255.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Resources
Finding Treatment
FindTreatment.gov Find a provider treating substance use disorders, addiction and mental illness.
American Psychiatric Association Foundation Find a psychiatrist.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder.
American Psychological Association Find a psychologist.
Iowa Mental Health Resources:
IowaMHDSRegions.org Find brain health professionals near you.
Your Life Iowa is the statewide crisis line that provides information and referral, counseling, crisis service coordination and linkages to crisis screening and mental health services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 855-581-8111, text 855-895-8398 or chat at www.yourlifeiowa.org.
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services: dhs.iowa.govIowa MHDS Advisory Groups: dhs.iowa.gov
Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council: iowaddcouncil.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness — Iowa: namiiowa.org
Iowa’s Area Education Agencies Mental Health: iowaaeamentalhealth.org
Iowa Legislature: legis.iowa.gov